Signal is one of the preferred messaging apps for those users who care about their privacy. Features such as end-to-end encryption, the use of a PIN code, or the possibility of distorting faces in photos, put it in your favorites in this section. Few knew that Signal is also behind the encryption protocol in WhatsApp messages..
While the two companies have had public spats over Facebook’s privacy scandals, a few years ago they signed a brief partnership. The company behind Signal, Open Whisper Systems, announced an agreement in 2014 to bring its encryption protocol to WhatsApp. Company integrates TextSecure into all messages, voice notes, files and calls.
After a year of operation, Signal has confirmed that the operation is complete and all WhatsApp clients for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Nokia and BlackBerry will have end-to-end encryption. For its part, WhatsApp announced to its users that messages and calls were protected and no one outside the chat could read or listen to them
Remember that warning message at the top of every chat? This was due to an association between both companies.
Signal has considered all scenarios to prevent third parties from reading conversations, including the ability to use an older version of the client to receive messages in plain text. Whatsapp users can make sure your chats with your contacts are encrypted. The client uses QR codes scanned or a string of numbers that are used by both sender and receiver.
Dispute between Signal and WhatsApp
Signal made famous by Edward Snowden, an NSA analyst who leaked classified information. Snowden recommended using TextSecure and RedPhone, two Open Whisper apps that would later be merged into what we now know as Signal. Later, movements like Black Lives Matter or Elon Musk himself suggested the app.
Unlike whatsapp, Open source signal and is managed by a fund established hacktivist Moxie Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton. The latter joined the project in February 2018 with a $50 million donation and the idea of making private communication accessible to everyone.
Despite their collaboration nearly a decade agoWhatsApp and Signal staged public fights. One of the latest occurred in 2021, when the second exposed Facebook’s methods of delivering targeted ads. signal scheduled campaign that showed how much information Meta collects from its users.
The idea was not well received by Mark Zuckerberg, who accused Signal of lying to gain publicity. Facebook did not allow Signal to serve ads and temporarily suspended your account in the social network. While users couldn’t see the ads, the damage was done and Facebook made a fool of itself.
Although Signal does not have a number of WhatsApp users, together with Telegram it is an alternative for those who want to secure their conversations. The next time you see a message about end-to-end encryption in one of your WhatsApp chats, remember that this feature exists thanks to the work of Signal engineers.
Source: Hiper Textual
