Facebook has records of everything you’ve ever said and done on its platform, including your likes, dislikes, pictures, videos, and location. What would happen if the same FBI agents grabbed some Facebook execs that wanted information on your account? The Facebook people would be able to tell them anything they wanted to know. You can read Signal’s privacy policy for more information here. The only data Signal has on you is your phone number, your last connection date, and your account creation date. Even if the FBI rounded up the owners of Signal and forced them to disclose information about their users, they couldn’t – the encryption of the platform, which is the bedrock of its core code, ensures they know nothing about any of their users. It has designed its app to ensure that it literally knows nothing about how people are using it. This is why Facebook is such a potent force on the global stage – it has more data than anybody else. Data is now the hard currency of the 21st century the more data you own and control, the more power you have.
This data is stored and, in some cases, used for marketing purposes. The owners of Signal cannot access your data, your conversations, or even see what you’re sharing and sending to friends and family.įacebook and other applications collect a lot of data on their users.
What is signal messenger code#
Signal is also completely open-source too, you can view Signal’s source code here, and everything that happens inside the app is protected by end-to-end encryption, so only YOU can see what is being said and shared inside a conversation. This way, Signal acts purely as a medium to connect you to other Signal users.
Signal doesn’t even store media all of your chats and media are stored locally on your phone. These levels of protection make it impossible for the owners of Signal to view and access anything that happens on their platform.Įven if they wanted to, they couldn’t – the design of the platform makes it impossible. Signal even developed its own encryption protocol just to make sure everything is completely private. But the core philosophy of Signal is privacy and this is what the app’s source-code and protocols are built around.
While Signal might look and function a lot like WhatsApp, it is actually very different under the hood. Signal is More Secure Than WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger You can also do self-destructing messages too that will simply disappear into the ether forever after a specified time period. With Signal, you can send IMs, do group calls (up to eight people), send media (photos and videos), add stickers and gifs to chats, transfer files, and even make voice calls – both on the phone app and the desktop one. In terms of design and functionality, Signal is very similar to WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, so if you’re worried about switching to a new IM because you don’t want learn a new system, do not fret: Signal looks and functions more or less the same as WhatsApp. Once you have this, and Signal downloaded, you can setup and account and start adding people. All that is required to join is a phone number.
What is signal messenger for android#
Signal is available for Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad) as well as desktop PCs, Macs, and Linux-powered machines.
What is signal messenger free#
They value their privacy, they don’t want Facebook snooping in on their conversations, and they like the “no strings attached” approach of Signal – the app is also 100% free toowhich definitely helps. Most people, however, don’t trust Facebook as guardian of their personal information and data.Īnd that, combined with WhatsApp’s proposed privacy changes, which come into effect in February, is why a lot of people are now switching over to Signal for good. But, don’t worry, it won’t actually do anything with all this access – or, at least, that’s the official line. Facebook can see, store, collect, and monitor everything that is done inside Facebook Messenger. Compare this to Facebook Messenger, the popular IM app used by millions and the difference is like night and day.