Is Signal Safe? A Closer Look at the Privacy Messaging App

Signal, on the other hand, is widely considered one of the safest messaging apps available. It uses advanced end-to-end encryption, collects minimal metadata, and doesn’t sell your data. Unlike many competitors, Signal is a nonprofit organization funded by donations, not ads.

In this article, we’ll explore what makes Signal one of the world’s most private messaging apps, who owns it, and why it’s considered safe. We’ll also look at the pros and cons of using Signal compared to other popular messaging platforms.

Who Owns Signal?

Signal is owned by the Signal Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to keep the app independent and free from ads or data tracking. It was co-founded in 2018 by Moxie Marlinspike, the app’s original creator and a respected privacy advocate, and Brian Acton, who famously co-founded WhatsApp before leaving Facebook over concerns about how it handled user privacy. Acton even invested $50 million of his own money to help Signal stay true to its mission.

The app itself dates back to 2014, when Marlinspike and his team at Open Whisper Systems launched Signal to provide secure, private communication. They developed the Signal Protocol, a cutting-edge encryption standard so effective that it’s used by apps like WhatsApp, Google Messages, and Skype.

Who Leads Signal Now?

Today, Signal is led by Meredith Whittaker, a privacy advocate and former Google employee who became CEO in 2022. Whittaker has continued to steer Signal toward its goal of offering a private messaging app that puts users – not advertisers – first.

Why Is Signal Unique?

What makes Signal unique is its nonprofit status. It doesn’t rely on ads or sell user data to keep the lights on. Instead, Signal operates entirely on donations and grants, which gives it the freedom to focus entirely on protecting user privacy.

Signal’s strong commitment to privacy has made it a favorite among security-conscious users, journalists, and even high-profile advocates like Edward Snowden. Its open-source design allows anyone to inspect the app’s code for vulnerabilities, adding another layer of transparency that most messaging apps can’t match.

Is Signal Safe?

Yes, Signal is safe and secure. Besides having staunch privacy advocates at the helm, Signal’s features make it one of the most secure messaging apps available. Its strong encryption and minimal data collection practices ensure protection against surveillance. 

Since its inception, Signal has been endorsed by major people in the tech and privacy arena – including NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and Elon Musk. 

What Makes Signal Secure

Signal is designed to prioritize privacy and security, making it one of the safest messaging apps available. Here’s why:

• • Signal protocol. Its end-to-end encryption means only the message sender and recipient can read the message. This makes it virtually impossible for third parties – even Signal – to snoop on conversations. Signal also uses a “Double Ratchet algorithm” to encrypt messages. This generates a new encryption key for every single message. It prevents anyone from reading conversations – even if they manage to decrypt one message.
  • Open-source. Signal’s iOS, Android, and Desktop source codes are open-source. This allows anyone to examine the code and spot potential security issues. It also makes it easy to verify and audit the app’s privacy claims.
    
  • Minimal data collection. Unlike other messaging apps, Signal only collects minimal metadata and doesn’t sell it to third parties. And like all messaging apps, it receives government requests to provide user data. However, since it doesn’t store your data, it can’t provide any information except for very general timestamps. You can read Signal’s responses in detail on its website’s “Government Requests” page.

What Are the Limitations of Signal’s Security?

While Signal is highly secure, no app is completely foolproof. Here are some limitations to consider:

• • Physical Access Risks: If someone gains access to your phone, they could read your Signal messages. To protect yourself, enable a Signal PIN and lock your phone. Using disappearing messages can add an extra layer of security by deleting read messages automatically.
  • Phone Number Registration: Signal requires a phone number to register, which could reveal your identity. However, you don’t need to share your phone number with contacts—you can simply use a Signal username to communicate anonymously.

Signal versus Other Messaging Apps

Signal Messenger is now widely accepted as the most private and secure messaging app. Compared to its counterparts, it collects minimal metadata and its end-to-end encryption is always on by default. The fact that Signal’s code is open source adds another level of trustworthiness and security.

It means anyone can check to see if its privacy claims are legitimate and spot security vulnerabilities. While you still need a phone number to sign up for Signal, you don’t need to share your number with people you chat with – you only need to share your username. 

Here’s a table comparing Signal’s features with other popular messaging apps. 

	Signal	Telegram	WhatsApp	Facebook Messenger
Ownership	Nonprofit (Signal Foundation)	Private (Pavel Durov)	Meta (formerly Facebook)	Meta (formerly Facebook)
End-to-End Encryption	Always on	Optional (Secret Chats only)	Always on	Not default (available via Secret Conversations)
Data Collected	Phone number only	Phone number, contact list	Phone number, contact list, metadata	Extensive (contacts, location, metadata, etc.)
Access to Message Content	Not possible (E2E encryption)	Possible (non-Secret Chats)	Not possible (E2E encryption)	Unclear – Meta denies allegations.
Metadata Stored	Minimal (last connection date)	Extensive (IP address, device details, etc.)	Moderate (e.g., who you talk to and when)	Extensive (metadata, device details, etc.)
Open Source	Fully open source	Partially open source	Partially open source	Closed source
Disappearing Messages	Available	Available	Available	Limited (requires manual deletion)

How to Set Up a Signal Account

Signal takes less than five minutes to create an account. All you need is a mobile number and an Android or iOS device. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Download and install Signal from the Google Play Store or App Store.

2. Choose if you want to give the app permission to access your contacts. You’ll need it to see who among your contacts is already on Signal.

3. Enter your mobile phone number and confirm that it’s correct.

4. Enter the SMS verification code or request a verification call.

5. Enter your profile name. This can be a pseudonym or nickname. You can also add a profile picture (optional).                     

6. Create an alphanumeric PIN with at least four characters. Don’t forget this because you’ll need it to reinstall Signal or switch mobile numbers in the future.

7. That’s it, you’re done! You can now also install the desktop app on your Windows, macOS, and Linux devices after creating your account.

Should You Use Signal?

Yes, if you value privacy and secure communication, Signal is one of the best messaging apps you can use. Unlike many competitors, Signal has taken a strong stance against compromising user privacy, even under government pressure. For instance, when the UK proposed its Online Safety Bill, which could undermine encryption, Signal openly stated it would leave the UK rather than compromise its security standards.

Other apps that market themselves as privacy-focused haven’t upheld the same commitment. Telegram, for example, has handed over user data to authorities, while Meta—the company behind WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger—has a long history of data misuse. Despite ongoing fines and lawsuits, Meta continues to collect and monetize user information extensively.

What sets Signal apart is its nonprofit status, its reliance on donations instead of ads, and its open-source code. Anyone can inspect Signal’s code for vulnerabilities, ensuring its claims of privacy and security are legitimate. Signal also collects minimal metadata and doesn’t store or sell user data, making it one of the most trusted tools for private communication.

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