Switching to Signal, the Secure Messaging Platform

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You already know why you should switch to Signal. It’s the most secure messaging platform available to consumers. Encryption, a lack of storage on Signal’s servers, verification of the person’s identity you’re messaging to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, and the FBI’s own admission that they can’t get anything out of it make it perfect for secure messaging. Plus it has additional screen locks with facial recognition, fingerprint scanners, or a pin, so even if someone’s using your phone, they still won’t be able to open Signal if you’ve locked it down. If you don’t want strangers to ever be able to read your messages, Signal’s the way to do it.

But how do you do it? How do you make the move to a new messaging platform?

It’s easy! The most important part to remember is you don’t have to move to a new platform at all. It’s more of a gradual shift, one you’ll likely never complete, but that’s okay. Signal can be there for your most important messages, group chats, and video calls. Or at least your most secretive ones.

Setting Up Signal

Signal’s available for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. For most people, if you have a platform you’re chatting on, Signal has a client for you. You can find whatever you need from their download page, or either the App Store or Google Play. However, a phone is required for the desktop clients. Signal works off of your phone number for verification.

After downloading, make an account. If you want to find your other friends who are already using Signal, be sure to give it access to your contacts. Signal will use your phone number to lock your account to your device as well as identify you. So, if you give someone your number and they see you’re on Signal, they can choose to message you there instead of sending you a standard text message.

Be sure to check out the privacy features. You may want to send read receipts and typing indicators, or perhaps you’ll want to keep that secret. You may also want to add a screen lock that can use Face ID, Touch ID, a pin, or other biometric scanning on Android devices. In the advanced section, you can find more features, like censorship circumvention in nations where you can’t connect to Signal’s network, and relay calls, so your voice calls won’t reveal your IP address.

That’s it. You’re done. Now you can go ahead and customize your view, change chat bubble colors, your name, icons, whatever you want.

Linking Other Devices

Because Signal works by verifying your account is linked to your phone number, you’ll need to do something else to set Signal up on your tablet, computer, or other phones. Signal can give you the same convenience of something like iMessage, that is, having your chats everywhere, but you have to link your devices to your phone.

Start by opening Signal on your device that isn’t your phone. Android devices won’t work as a linked device, and you can’t link multiple mobile phones. However, if you want to link your desktop or tablet to your Signal account, start with that. When logging in, you’ll chose to link your device to another account. It’ll display a QR code. On your phone, go to Settings > Linked Devices > Link New Device. Then just scan the QR code. It’s that easy. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to receive messages on your linked devices just like you can your phone.

Finding/Convincing Friends

The best way I could come up with to convince friends to make the switch was an easy to use guide for Signal on my blog. So, my advice is to start a blog, post about Signal, and wait for the friends to show up.

However, far better advice would be to ask friends if they have Signal before messaging them. If they do—and prefer using it—message them there. If they don’t, perhaps mention in passing what it is—a secure and encrypted messaging platform—and then message them with whatever they want. Seriously, meet people where they are, don’t be pushy about it. If people like the idea, they’ll switch. If not, message them wherever they feel most comfortable. You may want to stay away from the worst privacy offenders, like Facebook (Meta), WhatsApp (by Meta, formerly Facebook), WeChat, iMessage, or plain SMS, but for the most part, message them where you can. Being pushy won’t convince people to switch. If they like the idea of real privacy, they’ll come to the platform on their own. If not? Well, iMessage isn’t too bad, though law enforcement can get to it if you back up on iCloud. It’s up to you to meet them where you both are most comfortable.

Signal may be the best way to share private communications. However, if this pandemic and the isolation it has brought has taught me anything, it’s that any form of communication is better than none.