Signal Messenger, Answer To WhatsApp User Anxiety

Cover the Signal Messenger application (Signal)

JAKARTA - The Signal Messenger messaging application has recently become popular and is widely discussed on social media. This happened along with the new policy which announced WhatsApp to share data with Facebook.

Given that many, users are already focused on the security of personal data. Moreover, WhatsApp's new privacy policy is considered quite compelling, so that users have no other option to agree to these terms.

As a result, many WhatsApp users are now turning to other instant messaging applications such as Telegram. Even Tesla CEO Elon Musk has directly recommended the messaging app Signal on Twitter.

Use Signal

- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021

So what is the Signal application?

Signal Messenger is actually the successor of the encrypted voice calling and SMS messaging applications from RedPhone and TextSecure. This application was first launched in 2013 by Whisper Systems.

The startup company was founded by security researcher Moxie Marlinspike and robotics expert Stuart Anderson. Both of them then developed Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC.

Signal Foundation itself is a non-profit organization founded by WhatsApp founder Brian Acton in 2018. The institution was founded after he left Facebook Inc, and even donated 50 million United States (US) dollars to fund this application.

Launching Mashable, Signal is a free messaging and voice chat application that focuses on privacy. Signal can be used on Apple, Android smartphones, and via desktop.

Here's a sneak peek at some new Signal features that will start rolling out in a few days: • Chat wallpapers! • About field for your Signal profile • Animated stickers • For iOS: Media auto-download settings and full-screen profile photos (to Android match) Good morning 🇮🇳! pic.twitter.com/KEAbhMswRI

- Signal (@signalapp) January 12, 2021

Is Signal Safe?

Signal is considered very private for a number of groups. Signal promotes its privacy policy which does not collect user data of any kind.

Communication on Signal is claimed to be end-to-end encrypted, which means that only people in the message can see the content of these messages. Even the company can't see the message sent.

Signal also emphasizes that it does not sell, rent, or monetize users' personal data or content in any way forever. This means that the information stored on the platform is nothing more than the user's phone number, the user's account name and profile picture.

All this information will be encrypted end-to-end. Including information from contacts on the user's device can be cryptographically hashed and sent to the server to determine which contacts are registered.

One of the reasons Signal doesn't collect any data at all is that they are managed by a non-profit organization. This app does not display advertisements for users, so there is no incentive for them to collect user information.

Signal is also an open source application. This means that all code for the application can be accessed publicly, so it is difficult for irresponsible parties to put a backdoor secretly.

The app offers end-to-end encryption by default for all conversations. Even stickers that can be sent via Signal are protected by special encryption.

Signal also uses encryption based on the Signal Protocol which they developed themselves. This protocol is also used by other companies including WhatsApp and Skype.

Apart from well-established encryption, Signal also has a number of privacy features such as a security screen so that peepers can't see the preview of the app. Users can also use passwords or other biometrics to secure accounts.

Interesting Features in Signal Messenger

Not a few say that Signal is a "super-copy" application from WhatsApp and Telegram. But of course there will be a slight difference if we discuss the following interesting features in Signal that not many people know about, as summarized from BGR.

- Disappearing Message (Auto Delete Message)

Signal has a feature that makes messages automatically deleted. Own duration options ranging from 5 seconds to 1 week. If the user chooses to send messages like this, an hourglass icon will appear in each message.

- Supports Personal and Group Conversations

Unfortunately Signal did not specify a limit on the number of group conversation members.

- Can Voice and Video Call

Same thing with modern instant messaging services. Signal can do both of these things too. In fact, users can do it through an encryption process.

- Lock Application

Don't want your chat to be snooped on by other people? Yes, Signal has a feature to lock the application, so that messages cannot be seen by others. This feature can be opened like an Android lock screen (for example, with a fingerprint).

Free, encrypted, group video calls are here! https://t.co/yL9U1ozsJr pic.twitter.com/p1HheWCBuW

- Signal (@signalapp) December 15, 2020

- Supports Multiple Platforms

Just like other chat apps, you can also use Signal on Android, iOS, or on your computer via a browser (web app). There is a Signal extension in the Google Chrome browser for easy access on a computer.

- Could be an SMS / MMS application

The feature this time is quite interesting that users can use on Android. Users can also use the Signal application as the main messaging application for SMS and MMS. However, SMS and MMS do not go through the encryption process.

- Supports Application Themes

In the Signal application, users can choose dark mode or light mode. If the user selects light mode, the application will have shades of blue and white, while the usual dark mode will be black.

- Supports Emoji and GIFs

Emojis and GIFs have become a way of expressing oneself in conversation. And the Signal application also supports it. But it doesn't support stickers like WhatsApp, Telegram, or LINE.