Although WhatsApp has worked hard to make its messaging app more secure, there is still a lot to do. But with Signal, you will have it easier.
WhatsApp is the king of instant messaging with more than 2 billion active users per month. It is followed by Facebook Messenger, with 1,300 million, the Asian companies WeChat (1,225) and QQ (595) and further afield, Telegram (550) and Snapchat (528). But there is another player who wants to make a name for himself. It’s about Signal. At the beginning of the year it had only 40 million users, but it is gaining followers .
Already in 2014 he had the public support of Edward Snowden and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. But the great leap to popularity has come since 2019 thanks to the fact that the European Union has decided to adopt Signal as a secure messaging tool instead of WhatsApp. This includes all employees of all European institutions, notably the European Commission. What’s more, even the press dedicated to covering European news has been invited to switch to Signal.
If you are satisfied with WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger or Apple Messages, good for you. But if you are curious and would like to try Signal, we propose a series of tasks and tricks so that you can get started in this messaging app from a security and privacy approach.
What makes Signal more secure?
But let’s go in parts. Why should I pay attention to Signal if my friends and contacts are on WhatsApp? The conversations you have there may not seem important to you, but the information you share may be available to others.
For work reasons or to be more secure talking about any topic with your contacts, Signal offers several features focused on privacy . On its official page you will get more information.
End-to-end encryption.
- Own and open source security protocol.
- Whithout ads.
All these security features would be of no use if you cannot do with Signal the same as with WhatsApp or Telegram. In that sense, this is what this app gives of itself:
- Send messages, voice notes, photos, videos, GIFs, files …
- Calls and video calls.
- Encrypted stickers.
- Group chats and individual conversations.
- Block annoying users.
- Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, and iPad.
Check Signal’s security figures
Each individual Signal chat has a security number that allows you to verify the security of your messages and calls. You can check that figure by entering an individual chat. Then we click on the chat header and select See security figures .
To verify these security figures with your contact, you can use a QR code, compare the numeric code visually or audibly or use the Share icon to copy it to the clipboard.
If a chat has been verified, a check mark will appear in the chat header. We can verify individual conversations by tapping the corresponding button under View security figures .
Disappearing messages
Although it is not a perfect security measure, since you can take a capture or photograph, Signal has the ability to send messages that disappear over time. Messages that expire. These messages differ in that they include a clock that counts down. The time interval that you can configure ranges from 5 seconds to 1 week .
To activate the disappearing messages you must enter an individual chat, click on the contact’s name or chat settings and then on Disappearing messages . You can choose the expiration interval and start sending messages that will disappear after that interval.
You can disable this option whenever you want. Of course, you can not intersperse normal messages with messages that disappear. That is, this option will be useful to maintain a conversation more than to send a simple message.
Screen lock for Signal
In addition to blocking the screen of your iPhone or Android, you can block the Signal app itself. One more security measure to prevent someone from watching your conversations. Telegram, for example, also integrates this option.
Thus, when you access your phone, you will have to unlock it. But, you will also have to unlock when you open Signal. To activate this option you must go to the Signal settings and activate the screen lock. You will also need to configure the blocking interval .
The lock “uses your phone’s PIN, passkey or biometric authentication (for example, your fingerprint, TouchID or FaceID).”
Prevent screenshots
An interesting curiosity so that your Signal conversations do not leave Signal. Prevent your contacts from taking a screenshot of the chat without your permission.
You can activate this security feature from the Signal settings, in the Privacy section . There you will see the Screen Protection option . Once activated, if someone takes a screenshot, a blue screen will appear above the texts.
Clear history in case of emergency
Like any self-respecting messaging application, Signal allows us to delete the content we have generated: messages, calls, attachments … Come on, what is known as history.
If you are very jealous of your privacy and Signal’s security measures are not enough for you, you can choose to delete the history from time to time so as not to record your conversations. At least on your device.
In Signal, we go to the profile. Then we enter Data and storage> Manage storage . Finally we click on Delete message history . You will have to confirm by clicking on Delete .
Anyway, you can delete single messages and chats one by one. It is a less drastic measure and will allow you to see what you are erasing. You just have to touch and hold the message or chat and you will see the corresponding Delete option .
Blur faces in photos
A curious function of Signal has to do with blurring the faces of people that appear in the photos you share. A way to protect the identity of those people.
To use this option we select the image to send, click on the corresponding icon, which you will find at the top of the screen, and you will see the change instantly. The process is automatic . And if it doesn’t detect faces well, you can do it manually
