Do You Really Need to Switch to Signal From Whatsapp?

In recent times, many people have moved away from Whatsapp due to their new policies. But they do need a way of communication, what are they changing to?

They can’t change it to Messenger or Instagram - it’s just like escaping from a crocodile, just to get killed by another crocodile. So, what is the choice then?

Many people have started using this open-sourced platform - Signal.

It offers a safe and secure messaging platform, voice, and video call options which is also end to end encrypted.

It has nearly all the features that you might have used in Whatsapp. Over millions of people over the world in the past few days made a switch to Signal. Even Elon musk endorsed the app, which would have given them more popular than anything.

Whatsapp is currently the biggest messaging service in the world used by billions of people from different countries.

But they have recently lost many customers due to their new policy in which they are asking users from countries other than Europe to share data with their parent company Facebook.

Don’t panic, they are not going to share your messages, just everything else like your Mobile Number, Device Info, How you Interact with messages, etc.

They are not even asking for permission, if you are not from the European Union, then there is no option for you, either you need to give permission or just leave Whatsapp once and for all.

Why is Signal a better choice than Whatsapp?

Whatsapp cannot see your messages as they are encrypted, but they can know to whom and at what time you are texting sometimes (your metadata).

With that they will know how long are you talking to a person, how long are you using WhatsApp, your IP address, etc.

Now their new policy asks you to permit to share this information with Facebook for a better * customer experience *. Let's cut the crap they are using to attract advertisers.

On the other hand, Signal not only encrypts your messages, but they also encrypt your metadata, that is they can never find out who you are messaging, or for how low are you messaging a person.

The only thing that they store is your mobile number and nothing else. It uses the Internet to send one-to-one and group messages, which can include files, voice notes, images, and videos.

Unlike WhatsApp, your messages are not even stored in a cloud, they are stored in your device itself. The only way to retrieve your past messages is by using your device only. If you lose it, then gone, vanished.

Similar to Whatsapp, Signal is also free and can be used in any platform from Android and IOS to Windows and Linux as well.

And that is why, all in all, if privacy and data protection is your main concern, Signal will be the best platform for you to switch to.

If you are looking for some other more popular option - you can always move to the telegram. It is not open-sourced, but the messages are end-to-end encrypted just like Signal.

As the co-founders of the messaging platforms say:

Signal won't replace WhatsApp, the cofounder of both encrypted messaging apps says. Instead, people will use the 2 services for different conversations.

I do think a replacement is more likely than what they believe. I don’t see anyone using 2 apps for the same purpose.

It’s like having an iPhone and an android for calling. They are not going to use both. They will pick only one.

Either people are going to move to other platforms or they are going to stay on Whatsapp, I don't think both are possible.

Well, that’s it for today. Thanks for reading the article. Make sure to give it a like and subscribe to my Newsletter or Podcast to get notified for future content like this.