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The WhatsApp app has generated a lot of controversy in the last few days after updating its privacy policy, as it required data sharing with other Facebook apps and products, and if users did not agree to them. under the new privacy policy, their WhatsApp account would be deleted as of February 8, 2021. Therefore, looking for better alternatives that preserve user privacy, and the best alternative is the Signal app.
It is reported that after this update, (Elon Musk) Elon Musk – the CEO of Tesla and the richest person in the world today – urged his Twitter followers to use the (Signal) app and has was joined by Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter.
It’s also the messaging app Edward Snowden – a famous privacy advocate and former National Security Agency employee – has recommended for years. But why is Signal the best alternative to WhatsApp now?
first; What is the signal:
Signal can do everything that WhatsApp does because you can activate it using your phone number, then through your phone’s internet connection, you can also send encrypted text messages, voice messages, pictures or videos to individuals and groups. It also allows you to make individual or group audio and video calls with encryption support on both.
Second; What are the reasons that make it the best alternative to WhatsApp:
1- An open source application supporting encryption:
The (Signal) app is considered the best alternative to WhatsApp because it is the most secure app among all other messaging apps, because it is an open source app, and it is owned by Open Whisper Systems, a non-profit organization whose goal is to make private communications accessible to everyone.
The (Signal) app supports the encryption function and works on almost all operating systems, it is available for: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. It is also very easy to use and provides voice and video calling, so you won’t miss anything that WhatsApp has to offer.
The app supports the feature (end-to-end encryption) to keep your conversations secure, so that no one, as well as the company developing the app itself, can read your messages or listen to your calls. The encryption feature is based on an open source encryption protocol called (Signal Protocol), which means that experts can test it and look for errors, while this is not available in the WhatsApp app, which makes the more secure (Signal) application.
Signal also lets you create encrypted groups, so you can have secure private conversations with all of your friends simultaneously.
2- Signal does not collect your personal data:
The app raises the privacy banner is not an optional mode, but the basis of our work, as well as all the features you would expect from the messaging app you want to use.
It has been proven; A comparison made by Forbes magazine between the famous instant messaging apps, namely: Signal, iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, using the new app privacy stickers feature launched by Apple in the App Store.
This comparison showed that the (Signal) app is the best app when it comes to privacy because all the personal data it accesses is your phone number, and it doesn’t try to tie it to your identity. .
While the WhatsApp app, WhatsApp collects a lot of account related data such as: phone number, your account image and usage patterns – which include: features you use, groups you have joined, how you interact with others in the app and other information such as: use of status function – and Device data, and more. In addition to all this; After updating the privacy policy, the app will share all this data with other Facebook apps.
You can see all the data that the app collects about you via the article: “What data does WhatsApp collect about you and how do you improve your privacy?”
3- Save and encrypt the backup copies on your device:
The Signal app allows you to store a backup copy of your messages, pictures, files, and other content locally on your device in a folder in the Files app, not in a cloud storage service or Google Drive service because WhatsApp is working.
Also, when you turn on the backup function in the app, your data is encrypted with a 30-digit password, and you will need this code to restore the backup, so you should keep it in a safe place.
You won’t be able to restore a backup without the 30-digit password, so think of it as a security key that cannot be duplicated. Where a new backup must be created to create a new password.
4- You will not be added to groups without your permission:
One of the most important privacy features of the (Signal) app is that not all group members will be added automatically, but people will be sent an invitation and they must first accept the invitation to join the group.
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