Hesitant to share your personal information over messaging or texting? You’re not paranoid – you’re probably right to be cautious. Privacy is a thing of the past . One of the best tools to keep your conversations private is a free little app called Signal .
What is Signal?
Signal is designed specifically for mobile devices and allows for free, worldwide, encrypted calls for your smartphone. It does so by using ZRTP for secure voice communication.
Signal helps you dodge those pesky SMS fees while communicating, and lets you share media and files as normal, and chat with groups in real-time. It requires no password , uses your existing phone number, and never accesses any of your conversations or stores any of your personal data.
“Long before we knew that it would be called Signal, we knew what we wanted it to be,” said the company on their blog page . “Instead of teaching the rest of the world cryptography, we wanted to see if we could develop cryptography that worked for the rest of the world. We started Signal with the idea that private communication could be simple.”
As far as simplicity goes, using the app couldn’t be any easier: Installation is free , and the download time is quick. Once it’s done, you’re in the clear. The app’s Contact Discovery immediately displays which of your contacts are reachable with Signal, so you can carry on your conversations in private.
Why you need it
“As more and more of our lives happen online, data protection and privacy are critical,” explains the company’s Executive Chairman Brian Acton . “This isn’t just important for select people in select countries. It’s important for people from all walks of life in every part of the world. Everyone deserves to be protected. We created the Signal Foundation in response to this global need. Our plan is to pioneer a new model of technology nonprofit focused on privacy and data protection for everyone, everywhere.”
I link therefore I am: https://t.co/MuUZVwdijN pic.twitter.com/2rl6Q7v1Sv
— Signal (@signalapp) February 6, 2019
True to their word, the company has kept Signal free and open source. It’s the only app of its kind, and even goes as far as sending optional push notifications to conserve your battery life and still stay responsive.
“The best way to continue to ensure the universal availability of high-security and low-cost communications services like Signal is to do so through a foundation structure that is free of the inherent limitations of a for-profit company,” says Acton. “We’ve built a service used by millions, and software used by billions.”
Protect your privacy, choose this search engine over Google
The latest versions of Signal are available on Android, iOS, and Desktop. It also has an integrated link preview function and browser extensions for the Desktop client . Get it free today and let us know how it helps you manage your conversations. Stick with Softonic for more tips and tricks to keep your data private and secure!
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