This article goes through how one can get started with Signal messaging app. Signal is a cross-platform centralized encrypted instant messaging service developed by the non-profit Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC. Users who use the signal app can send one-to-one and group messages. These messages include files, voice notes, images, and videos. It can also be used to make one-to-one and group voice and video calls, and the Android version can optionally function as an SMS app.
Signal’s userbase began in May 2010. According to App Annie, Signal had approximately 20 million monthly active users at the end of December 2020. In January 2022, the BBC reported that Signal was used by over 40 million people. Signal can be compared to WhatsApp in terms of the messaging part and end-to-end encryption.
Related: Whatsapp vs Signal vs Telegram – Comparison table
Why Signal? What makes it different?
Signal offers more end-to-end encryption to protect the privacy of its users. End-to-end encryption refers to a communication system where only the involved devices can read the messages. This means that if a third party were to intercept your message in transit, it would be not readable to them. Nobody, including the app provider, can see what you are sending on the service, even if they wanted to. How does one then get started with the Signal Messaging app? Read on to find out.
How to get started with the Signal Messaging App:
Signal is available on both Android and iPhone. It is also available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is important to note that, to use the app on your computer, you must have the app installed on your phone first. This is an outcome of end-to-end encryption: Signal does not work on multiple devices, so the desktop app pulls data from your phone.
To get started, install Signal on your Android phone or iPhone. When you open it up, you will see basic info about the app, followed by prompts to enable notifications, access to your contacts, and similar. Then, to sign up, you’ll need to enter your phone number.
Currently, Signal only supports creating an account using a phone number; you can’t make an account with an email address, username and password, or similar.
After confirming your phone number with a code, you’ll need to enter your first name.
You can enter your last name and a profile picture if you want, but it’s not required. Finally, you need to create a PIN to use the Signal app.
This keeps your private information encrypted on the app and allows you to restore your contacts and other data if you reinstall the app. You don’t need it to open the app. Signal can’t reset your PIN if you forget it, so make sure you note it down somewhere safe, like a password manager.
Afterwards, you can start messaging some of your friends in your contact list who are already using Signal. Or you could invite some of your friends who are not on Signal to install it and start chatting with you. That is how you can get started with the Signal app.