Ever since WhatsApp has made changes to its privacy policy, there has been a growing privacy concern among the users. The new policies will be in effect from 8th February 2021, and users will have to make up their minds by then if they wish to stick to WhatsApp or not. Knowing fakebook’s history most of the users are now having trouble trusting messaging service as well and many have started looking for alternatives. While some messaging services were just realizing the opportunity they had, a tweet by Elon Musk changed everything.
The founder of Tesla and SpaceX took to Twitter to ask his followers to use Signal. The short message was misunderstood by many people, and it sent the valuation of a tiny health care technology firm beyond its wildest dreams. However, Musk was talking about Signal, the encrypted messaging outfit. In the wake of the changes in privacy policies by WhatsApp, Signal finally got the opportunity it has been waiting for. It soon became the most downloaded app on Google Play and the App Store. The servers were not ready for such a sudden increase in users and some people reported delays in verification codes.
Controversy and Rise of Encrypted Messaging Alternatives
The recent changes in the privacy policy of Facebook-owned WhatsApp were misinterpreted and some believed that their personal data will be shared for Facebook’s ad network. However, WhatsApp soon clarified that the messages will remain end-to-end encrypted and there was nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, most users were already convinced that their privacy was in danger. Once they realized that there was an alternative, the users quickly started flocking to these encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and Signal.
Although there were some rumors that led to the rise in users for Signal, the encrypted messaging service is probably the most secure app that you can use right now. Even the task force positioned in the Middle East used Signal for communication which proves how secure the app really is. However, this is not the only time that the downloads have skyrocketed for Signal. When Donald Trump had rolled back several privacy protections after his election, there was a significant spike in Signal downloads. Even a few months ago, when the Black Lives Matter protests were organized against police violence the activists flocked to Signal.
It seems that not only the Task Force but even activists fighting for equal rights love to use this messaging app. The privacy-focused social apps and messaging apps have grown in the last few years as the concerns of internet privacy have grown. It was reported by the mobile data and analytics provider that an average user is now spending 67 percent more time in messaging apps than on social apps, which explains the meteoric rise of apps like Signal.
What makes Signal special?
Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messaging app that lets the user make a video or phone call, and send texts without anyone else (including the platform) seeing the content of the messages. Even if the messages are intercepted by someone, all they would find is a string of garbled symbols and text that would make no sense because of the encryption. The app was founded back in 2014 by Moxi Marlinspike, an anarchist thinker and a previous Twitter employee. The development of the app was funded by a non-profit organization and Marlinspike along with WhatsApp co-founder Acton tried to keep the app free and open-source.
Signal does not rely on selling ads, so it does not need private data for targeted product sales. Since the app is financially supported by donations which include a $50 million loan from Acton himself, there is little incentive to sell user data as well. Since WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, most people have trouble trusting the app ever since it changed its privacy policy. Although some of the concerns might just be rumors, Signal is still a better and secure alternative to WhatsApp. The increase in its downloads will likely continue in the future as more and more people look for a better messaging app.
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