Hey everyone, welcome back to another article focused on tech privacy. Today, I’m covering the messaging app I rely on now—Signal.
WhatsApp Privacy Issues
So, why Signal? I used to use WhatsApp, but it’s a privacy nightmare. End-to-end encryption doesn’t mean much when the app grabs so much personal data. Even worse, Meta’s AI links what it collects across services like Instagram and Facebook.
WhatsApp collects your name, phone number, contacts, address book—the works. I made a separate article breaking it all down. I’ve told my main contacts I’m deleting WhatsApp (which I’ve done) and switching to Signal. If someone texts me, I ask them to move to Signal. SMS isn’t encrypted, and your telecom provider can access or even sell your messages.
Before diving into Signal’s strengths, quick disclaimer: it’s not perfect. I’ll be doing a follow-up article listing other private messaging apps and comparing their pros and cons.
Signal-gate
Now, a quick bit of Signal history and how it gained traction, but before that we’ll get into Signal-gate—the 2025 scandal where it was misused by US officials.
First incident: Trump’s former National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, accidentally added a journalist to a Signal group where senior officials discussed military plans.
Second incident: A month later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegsworth made a similar mistake in a separate chat. Signal’s encryption worked flawlessly—these were purely human errors.
Even Meredith Walker, president of the Signal Foundation, acknowledged it was the users’ fault. Signal’s tech held strong. It’s so secure that not even government agencies can’t break it (more on that later).
The Founding of Signal
One of the main reasons I switched to Signal wasn’t just its encryption — it was the story behind it. Back in 2009, WhatsApp was founded by Brian Acton and Jan Koum. Years later, they sold the app to Meta — yes, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — for a massive $19 billion. Meta didn’t spend that out of goodwill. They wanted access to data. At the time of sale, WhatsApp had 450 million active monthly users, and that number has skyrocketed since.
After joining Meta, Brian Acton eventually left. One of the breaking points was the infamous Facebook data breach involving 87 million users — exposing data to Cambridge Analytica and influencing U.S. elections. Acton became publicly disillusioned with Meta’s practices. In a CBS interview, he admitted selling users’ privacy in the deal, and in 2018, he tweeted “#DeleteFacebook.”
That’s when things took a turn. Acton co-founded the nonprofit Signal Foundation with Moxie Marlinspike, the creator of Signal. Acton invested $50 million of his own money to support its growth. Unlike Meta, Signal is committed to privacy — no selling data, no ads, no intention to ever sell the app. It’s what WhatsApp should’ve been from the start.
And yes, Meta plans to inject ads into WhatsApp, which is frustrating but not surprising. I covered this more in a previous article.
The One Downside
Signal isn’t just private — it’s incredibly user-friendly. There is one caveat: you do need a phone number to register. It can be mobile or landline, as long as it can receive texts or calls for verification. The phone number requirement is a persistent frustration.
Some folks online have claims about skipping the number registration process are rarely backed up with actual proof, and even the VoIP suggestions float around without much reliability. Losing access to your account due to that kind of workaround just adds another layer of risk.
Usernames (Hidden Numbers)
That said, Signal tries to mitigate this issue once you’re registered. Thanks to recent updates, your phone number never has to be revealed to others. With the username system, you can simply share a unique handle or URL with someone. They can initiate contact through that, and your number stays hidden — even from people who already have it. It’s a smart way to keep identity exposure to a minimum.
Government Data Requests
Signal’s response to government data requests is also worth applauding. They’ve made their legal disclosures public, and they show everything from court orders to internal legal correspondence. Their platform is so locked down, even their own team claims they can’t access message content due to encryption. The FBI’s own documentation confirms that Signal reveals only the date and time of account registration and the last time someone connected to the service.
Other services such as WhatsApp and Apple iMessage reveal far more data and should never be used if privacy is a concern.
Supported Platforms
Cross-platform support is another win. Whether you’re on Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac, or Linux (including Debian-based distros like Mint), Signal keeps accessibility broad.
Proxy Connection (When Blocked)
In restrictive regions, proxy support offers a way to stay connected even when governments block standard access or just connections to Signal.
Governments in authoritarian mode can block internet access or specific services like Signal, often by controlling telecom infrastructure. But Signal has proxy support built in to help users bypass such blocks and stay connected securely. This is especially useful for journalists needing to report events discreetly from restrictive countries.
Privacy Keyboard
Another overlooked threat: mobile keyboards. Whether you’re using Apple’s native iOS keyboard, Google’s Gboard, or SwiftKey by Microsoft, many of them quietly collect data for analytics and advertising. I once checked SwiftKey’s permissions on my phone and discovered over 500MB of data sent over the internet in two months — from a keyboard. Signal tries to counter this with a incognito keyboard mode on Android, preventing keystroke tracking. Despite not being guaranteed to work, it’s still a noteworthy attempt for Android users at user protection.
iPhone support is not supported due to Apple’s locked-down system.
View-once Media
Signal also offers privacy-focused media messages features like “view once,” which auto-deletes shared photos or videos after they’re opened, even removing traces from Signal’s own servers.
Disappearing Messages
Disappearing messages let you set timers up to four weeks, though Signal is transparent about limitations — screenshots or external cameras could still capture content. Their documentation doesn’t pretend these tools are flawless; it’s realistic and honest.
App Lock Down
To block shoulder surfers or passersby from glancing at your messages, Signal lets you hide app previews in your task switcher and require biometric or passcode reauthentication after switching apps. Even if your phone is already unlocked, Signal won’t open without authentication.
Block Windows Recall
And perhaps the boldest move to publicly humiliate Microsoft and their terrible privacy invading AI service: Signal’s response to Microsoft Windows Recall. This controversial Windows feature can capture near-continuous screenshots of user activity. In what feels like a direct rebuttal, Signal updated its desktop app to be block access from Recall. Their documentation makes it clear — Signal doesn’t want your activity tracked by AI services, period.
