Privacy is one of the most basic human rights. When we talk to our loved ones at home, usually no one will hear us. But when we cross geographical barriers and chat through chat software, there may be someone who has been listening. When things go from offline to online, this kind of change that makes everyone uncomfortable should not happen. We should be thankful that many people are fighting for this right for themselves, and that Signal can be an important tool to maintain our privacy online.
Signal is a free and open-source encrypted chat application for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android platforms. It provides end-to-end encryption capabilities to ensure the security of user communications. In addition to Signal itself, the Signal Protocol has been adopted by communication software such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook Messenger and Skype to support the end-to-end encryption function.
When Signal first launched, it had only two users, and as of December 2020, it has 20 million active users. Not only Elon Musk, as early as 2015, Edward Snowden mentioned on Twitter that he has been using Signal. Since the PRISM and other incidents were exposed, people have become more and more distrustful to major technology companies and telecom operators, and the emergence of Signal is at the right time.
Signal integrates the text chat function of TextSecure and the call function of RedPhone. Any one-to-one and group messages (text, picture, voice, video) sent through it are encrypted end-to-end. Compared with similar applications, it has many user-friendly functions that can be freely selected to be turned on or off, such as: Typing Indicators, Set disappearing messages, Reply single message, Screen Lock, Set read receipts, and more.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
| Share Without Insecurity | State-of-the-art end-to-end encryption (powered by the open source Signal Protocol) keeps your conversations secure. We can't read your messages or listen to your calls, and no one else can either. Privacy isn’t an optional mode — it’s just the way that Signal works. Every message, every call, every time. |
| Say Anything | Share text, voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs and files for free. Signal uses your phone's data connection so you can avoid SMS and MMS fees. |
| Speak Freely | Make crystal-clear voice and video calls to people who live across town, or across the ocean, with no long-distance charges. |
| Make Privacy Stick | Add a new layer of expression to your conversations with encrypted stickers. You can also create and share your own sticker packs. |
| Get Together with Groups | Group chats make it easy to stay connected to your family, friends, and coworkers. |
| No ads. No trackers. No kidding. | There are no ads, no affiliate marketers, and no creepy tracking in Signal. So focus on sharing the moments that matter with the people who matter to you. |
| Free for Everyone | Signal is an independent nonprofit. We're not tied to any major tech companies, and we can never be acquired by one either. Development is supported by grants and donations from people like you. |
System Requirements
- Windows 10+
- Android 5.0+
Prompts
- Signal has been completely blocked by Iran, China and some other countries.
Download URLs
| License | Version | Download | Size |
| Freeware | Latest |  |
n/a |