Non tutti sanno che Signal, l’app di messaggistica che garantisce la privacy degli utenti, può essere usata anche per inviare SMS e MMS su Android: ecco come fare.
Veronica Nicosia Giornalista scientifico
Laureata in astrofisica, giornalista scientifico e content editor SEO, scrive di tecnologia per magazine online e carta stampata. Nel 2020 approda a Libero Tecnologia
Signal è ormai considerata l’alternativa migliore di WhatsApp soprattutto perché garantisce un livello di privacy e sicurezza superiore alle altre app di messaggistica. The app also allows you to send secure SMS and MMS messages, but the feature is currently only available for Android devices.
Many after WhatsApp’s privacy policy change on May 15 preferred to switch apps and landed on alternative messaging apps like Telegram or Signal. Just the latter offers a system with the highest level of security, thanks to the type of end-to-end encryption that is applied to conversations. In addition to sending messages in the chat, the app can be set as default to send SMS and MMS. This feature doesn’t guarantee the same level of security as chat, but it still offers good privacy management. The only flaw? The app is not yet available either for iPhone owners or for sending text messages from your desktop PC.
How to set Signal as your default app
In order to send secure text messages through the Signal app for Android, you need to set the messaging app as the default for sending text messages and MMS in your smartphone. To do so, you need to open the Signal app, tap on your Profile at the top left of the screen and then follow the path Conversations > SMS and MMS > Use as default SMS app.
A pop-up screen will open showing a list where the default app in your Android smartphone for sending and receiving SMS is listed. The user will be able to choose Signal and by tapping on Set Default the app will have access to contacts, SMS and phone.
From now on, when you open a chat with a contact holding on the gray send button will open a window that allows you to choose whether to send a Signal message or an SMS.
What changes with Signal as the default app
Usually the Signal app only shows contacts in its address book that use the service. After you set the app as your default app, however, you’ll be able to read all the contacts in your smartphone in your address book, even the ones that don’t use Signal.
Also, you’ll be able to easily send both SMS and Signal messages and it will be very easy to recognize them and be able to communicate securely. When you open the app to start a conversation, before you start typing in the box where you enter the text you’ll see the type of message you’re sending.
Finally, remember that Signal is only available for Android, so those who use the Desktop version on their PC will only be able to read Signal messages that are synchronized, while they won’t be able to read SMS and MMS sent and received.
Signal to send SMS: why doesn’t it exist for iPhone?
Those who own an iPhone will not be able to use Signal to send their SMS and MMS and the reason is in the privacy system that Apple applies to its devices. In fact, Apple doesn’t allow third-party apps to be set as default, so Signal doesn’t have the necessary permissions to be able to send text messages instead of chat messages.