Signal: features of the messenger praised by Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey

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Signal messenger was released a long time ago, but since January, the popularity of the application has skyrocketed. Millions of former users of WhatsApp and other applications are switching to it. And it is also compared with Telegram. We figured out the history of the messenger and its features, data encryption, pluses and minuses relative to competitors.

The fall of whatsapp

In early January 2021, WhatsApp announced an update to its privacy policy. From February 8, the app had to officially transfer user data to its parent company Facebook. The list included phone numbers of the users themselves, address books, status data, names and profile photos, information from other applications, location, dates and shopping lists, and more.

Such official arrogance angered millions of messenger users and they massively began to switch to competitors. Often the choice fell on the main character of the material - the Signal messenger. Millions have gone to Telegram as well. In just one week in January, Signal recorded an influx of almost 9 million people. Telegram reported 11 million or more. 

Naturally, WhatsApp abruptly “changed shoes”, its representatives said that they would not transfer any data to Facebook, and the privacy policy update was postponed to May 15 and with big changes. But this only made it worse and users continue to "run" from the application. Tens of millions is nothing compared to two billion - that's how much the popular messenger had in February 2020. Therefore, the real fall did not happen. But this gave a tangible boost to competitors, especially known only in narrow circles of Signal. 

Rise of Signal

Signal is owned by a non-profit foundation of the same name, has been created since 2013 and is open source. Money for the development of the application comes from private donations. You can help here . You can download the messenger from this link . 

Before its popularity among the masses, the application was used by people with an increased need for privacy: activists, opposition members from different countries, politicians, journalists, and so on. 

Signal has been praised by Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk and Edward Snowden. The latter has been using the messenger since 2015 and assures that even the FBI does not have access to his correspondence. 

A feature of the messenger is encrypted messages from device to device (E2EE). This means that no one except the participants in the conversation has access to information. Even the developers cannot read the correspondence. The messenger does not collect user data and does not display ads. 

Features

Signal is a classic messenger. The program allows you to write messages, create single and group chats (up to 1000 participants maximum), call up by voice or video (up to 8 users at the same time), share photos, emojis and videos, share location and contacts. The application can be used instead of the standard one for SMS. 

Of the additional chips, there is sending photos and videos that disappear after a couple of seconds after reading. And Signal can also check and confirm the user's contacts, so that everyone always knows for sure that they are chatting with this person, and not a scammer. To do this, the application sometimes asks for a pin code set during registration or allows interlocutors to exchange QR codes.

All correspondence in the program, including video calls, calls, transferred files, etc., is always encrypted and hidden by strong E2EE encryption. This means that the above data is not stored on the messenger's servers, but on users' devices. Therefore, even the developers of the application do not have access to them. 

The messenger has its own Signal Protocol encryption protocol. It encrypts all types of information exchange except classic SMS. And then only those that are sent to contacts not registered in the messenger. 

Use and registration

The app uses the phone number as a universal identifier. It is specified during registration, and then the application requests access to the list of contacts that are scanned for already registered users. If desired, it is allowed not to grant the program access to contacts. But then you will always have to search for existing and new users through the manual entry of their phone numbers. 

When you install the messenger on another smartphone or change the number, correspondence, files and other data are lost. After all, the application stores it on the device and does not synchronize with servers. You have to pay for complete confidentiality with such inconveniences. 

Messenger works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad. Due to security reasons, there is no web client, but only an application. Under one number, the messenger can be installed on five devices at the same time. But among these gadgets, there cannot be two smartphones at once. Restrictions are made for the same security. 

When using Signal as an SMS and MMS app, it will show unsecured conversations. That is, those contacts that do not have a messenger. If desired, they can send an encrypted link to download the application. 

Signal and Telegram 

Signal is often compared to the popular Telegram. But these two messengers have many differences. In some ways, the first is better, and somewhere in the second. Signal surpasses Telegram in data encryption. Pavel Durov's messenger has E2E protection. But it does not work everywhere, but it is turned on by hand only in secret chats with two users. In all other cases, the data is also protected, but it goes through the Telegram server, which means it can be hacked. 

Through them, Telegram conveniently synchronizes correspondence between user devices, but this is another security minus. All Signal data is stored encrypted only on gadgets. And this reduces the chance of hacking, because hackers will have to go through not only a smartphone or PC, but also deal with Signal Protocol proprietary encryption. It is considered stronger than the Telegram cipher, which has already been cracked once. But that doesn't mean that Signal will never get hacked. 

Signal and Telegram source codes are in the public domain. But in the latter case, the server codes were not made public, which means that no one can say exactly what happens to the data of Telegram users. 

Telegram is better to use. It has a nicer and more rational interface. Chats have backgrounds that can be changed, tons of stickers, and an expanded “About Me” field. Signal does not have this, but the creators promise to make the messenger more enjoyable for users soon. 

Telegram allows you to share files up to 2 GB, while Signal has this limit of 100 MB. Telegram group chat accommodates up to 200,000 users, while Signal's figure is only 1,000 people. Because of this, Signal will not become the powerful new media platform for bloggers and media that Telegram has become. 

Telegram has useful bots for any color, taste and need. Signal does not have them and is unlikely to have them, because to create them you will have to access user correspondence. 

What messenger do you use? Is privacy important to you and can apps provide it? Share your experience and thoughts in the comments.

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