Signal

Today I set up a Signal account on my phone. It was interesting to read the following from this source:

... what most people don’t realise is that Signal “phone numbers” are not really phone numbers. They are more like numeric user names.

Contrary to popular belief, your Signal account is not linked to your phone number, but rather to an automatically generated number called a private key. In order to make the app easy to use, this private key or cryptographic identity is then associated with some arbitrary other number that again, for convenience’s sake, just happens to be a phone number. The reason it’s a phone number is so that the Signal service can send you a verification code in a text message during the sign-up and account registration process. But there’s no reason you have to give Signal your real phone number.

By providing Signal with any phone number at which you can receive an SMS or text message, you can register a Signal account at that other phone number. For example, you can create a pseudonymous Google account, register a Google Voice VoIP number, and use that as your Signal number. Or you can even use a free throw-away SMS account and use that number when you sign up for your Signal account instead of your real phone number. The Signal service will happily send the throw-away number a text message with the verification code, letting you complete the account sign-up process.

I had tried to register using my Australian Skype number only to find out that such numbers can't receive an SMS. This was news to me and so I promptly cancelled my Skype number. The reference above to Google Voice VoIP number caught my attention but that's currently only available in the USA. 

Here is some more information about Signal:

For the past few days, WhatsApp is hitting the headlines as it is updating its terms of use and privacy policy. As it appears to be a concern for many, people are talking about the alternatives to WhatsApp. One of the most secure options available out there is Signal. Well, WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app that comes with features such as end-to-end encryption, video and voice calling support, simplified file transfer in just a single click and much more. However, it is not the only one offering such capabilities to users. There are a slew of messaging apps such as Telegram, Line, iMessage and more that provide similar benefits. 

Having said that Signal is a secure alternative to WhatsApp, let's take a look at the details of the app. 

What Is Signal? 

Signal is a messaging app with a great focus on privacy. Its tagline is 'Say Hello to Privacy'. It is an end-to-end encrypted service just like WhatsApp. Signal is available on Android, iOS and Chrome platforms. It is free of cost and comes with same features as any other messenger apps. While it exists for quite some time, the app has gained traction since the recent privacy policy change announced by WhatsApp. It received too much influx from new registrations across the world and crashed. Now, Signal is back in action and it accepts new registrations.  

Who Owns Signal? 

Signal was developed by the Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC and it is a non-profit company. Signal was created by Moxie Marlinspike, American cryptographer and currently CEO of Signal Messenger and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton. 

Which Country Does Signal Belong To? 

The Signal app's origin is California, USA. This rules out the confusion that many might have as it is speculated to be a Chinese company. Notably, the company has been termed Limited Liability Partnership. 

Is Signal Safe? What Data Does It Collect? 

While WhatsApp and many other instant messaging apps collect a lot of user data from your device such as performance data, device ID, advertising data, product interaction, payment info, location data, search history and more, Signal is claimed to be a secure app. We say so as the app does not collect any user data. It is claimed that Signal will ask only for your mobile number for registration. Apart from this, the app won't ask you to link your number to your user account.

Read more at: https://www.gizbot.com/apps/news/signal-messaging-app-who-owns-signal-which-country-does-telegram-belong-to-071992.html

Now what about Moxie Marlinspike whose real name is Matthew Rosenberg? Here is a link to a profile of the man. He is Jewish but I don't know if he has dual nationality (with Israel). The reality is that no United States software developer is allowed to rise to prominence if they don't acquiesce to the installation of NSA backdoors in the software. The richest man in the world recommending Signal should be a signal in itself that something's not right here. It's as if we are all being herded toward Signal but any hope of genuine privacy is a forlorn hope. End-to-end encryption of communications is not the future that is being planned for us. This article explores the issue in more depth.