Signal is a fast-growing messaging app of late. Here’s how it works and what its key features are
Signal, the instant messaging app that focuses everything on security, has started to run. It has surpassed the goal of 10 million downloads between the App Store and Google Play Store, and plans to continue growing in the near future. Also thanks to the help of Brian Acton, one of the co-founders of WhatsApp, who decided to finance Signal’s growth with 50 million euros.
Thanks to this investment, the number of employees has increased from 3 to 20 in a short time and the developers have begun to work hard on new features to be brought soon to the application. Signal became famous for being among the first messaging apps to use end-to-end encryption, the most effective way to protect the personal data exchanged by users on the app. In recent months, other functions have been added to Signal, such as the possibility for group administrators to add or remove people at will. Not a simple system, especially when using end-to-end encryption.
Signal, how the anti-WhatsApp works
Signal’s not-so-subtle goal is to become the anti-WhatsApp. After reaching 10 million downloads, the app wants to start growing fast and reach 100 million. One of the cornerstones of Signal is the security offered to users, but now it’s not enough: in the coming months the focus will be on new innovative features. The first step is the one just mentioned: the possibility for group administrators to add or remove people.
Signal has also worked on content and stickers, implementing end-to-end encryption on these elements as well. It’s not an easy job, but it’s necessary in order to guarantee the maximum protection to the users.
As for the rest, Signal is identical to all the messaging apps: besides being able to send messages, you can make calls, video calls and send images, videos and multimedia content.
Signal, investments on privacy
Signal bets strongly on privacy and in the next months it intends to improve this aspect. One of the biggest problems is identifying a person by their phone number. The developers want to solve this problem by implementing a new feature, which, however, they didn’t want to talk about yet.
How to download Signal
Signal is available for free on the Google Play Store and the App Store.