But unlike Facebook, Signal's parent company is a non-profit foundation created by an anarchist cryptographer and one of the founders of WhatsApp.Įase of use and strong, open-source, regularly audited encryption makes Signal a favorite of the security-conscious, with accolades from Edward Snowden and other privacy advocates.

Signal's encryption protocol is so strong that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger use it too. In fact, you can even change phone numbers while keeping Signal account data as long as you're staying on the same device. You can transfer Signal accounts (opens in new tab) from one Android phone to another and from one iOS device to another.

Updates to the app have added user-friendly features such as custom wallpapers and animated stickers, and Signal group video chats can now have up to 40 participants.Īll Signal messages can be set to self-destruct after a certain amount of time while a Chrome browser plugin (opens in new tab) lets you use Signal from your desktop as well. You can send text messages, voice calls, group messages, media and attachments to your phone contacts, all without having to mess with PIN codes or special login credentials.

Signal self destructing messages