The Signal app is a secure messaging app that lets you send and receive messages securely across different platforms – Mac, Windows, iOS devices, Android devices and others. It means you can send a message from your iOS device to an Android device, or from your Mac to a Windows computer.
Explore below to see why Signal is a simple, powerful, and secure messenger Share Without Insecurity State-of-the-art end-to-end encryption (powered by the open source Signal Protocol) keeps your conversations secure. How to Install Signal on a PC or Mac. This wikiHow teaches you how to use Signal on Windows or macOS by installing the Signal Desktop Chrome extension. You'll need your mobile device handy to set up the app. Open Google Chrome.
With purchase after purchase, milestone surpassed after milestone surpassed, Facebook continues its slow suffocation of the internet. You, a thinking person who values your privacy and sees the Mark Zuckerberg-helmed behemoth as complicit in an array of real-world suffering, want out.
But with Facebook operating the world's largest messaging apps — the company owns both Instagram and WhatsApp in addition to the familiar, now ominous shade of blue that accompanies Messenger — many messaging options of the digital age correctly feel tainted. Thankfully, there are plenty of non-Facebook-owned ways to communicate with friends and family that are easy, secure, private, and reliable.
Going Facebook-free has never been easier. Here are some non-Facebook-owned messaging options to get you started.
The best messaging apps
1. Signal
Signal is great in all the ways Facebook isn't, and then some.
The free messaging app works on Android and iOS, and on both Macs and PCs. You can send written messages, make voice and video calls, send voice memos, and have massive group chats — just like you would on Apple's iMessage.
Signal is an independent nonprofit, and it's recommended by experts. It stores virtually no information about its users, and all your communication sent via the app is end-to-end encrypted. Even when law enforcement does come knocking, Signal claims it has practically nothing on its users to turn over.
There are no 'safe' jurisdictions anymore, only safe services. This is the entirety of what the DOJ's jurisdiction got them: pic.twitter.com/xnQ5tW58FD
— Signal (@signalapp) October 4, 2016
'We can't read your messages or listen to your calls, and no one else can either,' Signal explains on its website. 'There are no ads, no affiliate marketers, and no creepy tracking in Signal.'
Using the app is intuitive. If you can use WhatsApp or Messenger, you'll have no trouble using Signal. So give it a try, and relegate Facebook to its rightful place — that of the bad taste in your mouth that you're currently in the process of washing out.
2. iMessage
![Signal Messenger App Mac Signal Messenger App Mac](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133900290/339159612.jpg)
Apple's iMessage is the greatest messaging app you never realized you were already using.
The app, native to Mac devices, lets you send text-based messages, videos, GIFs, and voice memos. If you're communicating with another Mac user, and you see that blue bubble (as opposed to a green bubble), your messages are default end-to-end encrypted — putting Facebook's Messenger to shame.
Signal Messenger App Mac Download
Of course, there are some drawbacks to iMessage. For starters, unlike Signal, it requires an Apple device. What's more, even if you do have an iPhone or iPad, messages sent to Android-sporting friends and family via iMessage are traditional SMS text messages — this means they're not encrypted.
Overall, it's a great app. It's just a bummer that it's limited to Mac.
The likely better than Facebook
When looking for an alternative to Facebook, it's important to ask yourself why you're trying to rid yourself of that particular scourge. If your privacy is the driving factor (or any factor, really), then you're best sticking with the options listed above. However, if your concern lies not with matters of privacy, but is instead, say, a reaction to Facebook's disastrous effect on civil rights, these are some options you might want to consider.
3. Google Duo
Google may not be the most privacy-friendly company, but it does make products that work. Google Duo is one such app, available on both iOS and Android, that lets you make video calls with multiple participants.
SEE ALSO: Why you shouldn't use Facebook's Messenger Rooms: A non-exhaustive list
Like Signal video calls, Duo calls are end-to-end encrypted by default, which means the content of the calls is protected from prying eyes and ears. Unlike Signal, however, the app likely collects a ton of metadata on its users. The Mozilla Foundation, a nonprofit working to keep the internet 'open and accessible to all,' notes in its Privacy Not Included guide that 'Google collects information on users that includes name, birthday, gender, phone number, email, location, contacts you add, and apps you use.'
In the end, you might as well use Signal. However, Duo is still a better option than Facebook.
4. Zoom
Yes, Zoom. Sure, the video-call app has its share of problems. However, the company behind the app promises it's working to solve them.
Available on desktop and both iOS and Android, the conferencing app skyrocketed to popularity as the coronavirus pandemic forced people to stay inside for months on end. While the app initially presented serious privacy concerns, Zoom has taken real and serioussteps to address them.
Specifically, Zoom will offer all users end-to-end encryption. However, like with Facebook Messenger, the feature is not enabled by default. Also, while there is free version of the app, to get the full benefits you have to pay up — $14.99 a month for the 'pro' version. However, at least with Zoom the exchange is clear: You give the company money, and it gives you a service.
SEE ALSO: How to use Jitsi Meet, an open source Zoom alternative
With Facebook, it's not always obvious what the company is taking from you in exchange for the joy of being continuously bathed in COVID-19 misinformation.
Download Signal Private Messenger App
So delete your Facebook account, delete your Instagram account, delete your WhatsApp account, and start living that Facebook-free life. There are other options out there, all you have to do is use them.
The Signal app is a secure messaging app that lets you send and receive messages securely across different platforms – Mac, Windows, iOS devices, Android devices and others. It means you can send a message from your iOS device to an Android device, or from your Mac to a Windows computer. You can also send from your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC, and vice versa. It’s a very versatile messaging application that allows you to communicate with whatever platform the other person is using. Signal also supports voice calls and multi-media messaging.
One of Signal’s main selling points is its ability to provide secure communication across different platforms. Aside from encrypting messages, the Signal app also has an auto-delete function that protects messages from prying eyes. Before releasing the standalone Signal private messenger desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux, the Signal app was only available for mobile users and deprecated Chrome app, which was the only way to use the secure messaging app on a computer or laptop. With the launch of the standalone app, users don’t have to install Chrome to be able to use Signal on their computer.
Requirements
The Signal app is not available for anyone. Signal Desktop for Windows requires a 64-bit architecture and Windows 7 or later operating system. The Mac version, on the other hand, requires at least macOS 10.9 or higher. On Linux, the Signal app only works with Linux distros that support the apt package manager, including Debian, Ubuntu, and their offshoots.
To install the Signal app, you need to install the app on your phone first. You need to create a Signal account, which can only be done using the mobile app, and use that account to scan a QR code first before linking it to your Signal Desktop app. The process is a bit complicated, so this article will show you how to install the secure messaging app correctly.
How to Install Signal App on Mac
The installation process for Mac is the same on Windows PC and Linux. To install the Signal private messenger, follow these steps:
- The first step is to download the mobile app on your Android or iOS device. Once you’ve installed the app, you need to add your mobile number wherein a confirmation code will be sent to verify your account. Type in the code and set up your other account details, including your name and avatar. Signal will ask for permission to access your Contacts, but you don’t necessarily have to grant permission if you are worried about your data security. You can manually add contacts to your Signal app later.
- The next step is to download the Signal app for Mac. The app is not available on the Mac App Store, so you’ll have to download it from the developer’s website.
- Unzip the file and drag the Signal.app file into your /Applications folder. Once installed, launch the app.
- If a message pops up confirming whether you want to open the app, click Open. This message appears because the app was not downloaded from the Mac App Store.
- Next, you’ll see a window asking you to link your phone to your Signal Desktop app. You need to have your mobile phone with you to connect it to your Signal Desktop. You’ll see a QR code on the screen, which you’ll have to scan using your phone.
- To link your device, go to your mobile Signal app’s settings and tap on Linked Devices. You need to provide access to your camera so it can scan the QR code.
- Complete the setup process on your Mac by typing in a name for your account.
- Now you can start sending messages on your Signal Desktop to any Signal user.
Take note that Signal only allows you to send secure messages to other Signal users. You can’t send SMS, iMessages or another messaging format to other users. So if you want to maximize the benefits of secure communication, you’ll need to ask your friends, family members or colleagues to sign up for a Signal account to be able to send and receive messages.
The Signal app is straightforward to use with its user-friendly interface. To make sure you have a glitch-free messaging experience, improve your Mac’s performance with an app like Tweakbit MacRepair. Not only does this up to clean up your Mac, but it also boosts your RAM so your apps will run smoothly and efficiently.
If you’re running into errors and your system is suspiciously slow, your computer needs some maintenance work. Download Outbyte PC Repair for Windows, Outbyte Antivirus for Windows, or Outbyte MacRepair for macOS to resolve common computer performance issues. Fix computer troubles by downloading the compatible tool for your device.
See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy Policy.
See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy Policy.