Honestly, most people think they’re "safe" because they use WhatsApp. They see that little "end-to-end encrypted" bubble and figure they’re basically invisible. But that’s where the confusion starts. If you actually look at the metadata—who you talk to, when you talk to them, and how often—companies like Meta are still hovering over your shoulder. That is exactly why the secure messaging app Signal exists.
It isn’t just an app. It’s a non-profit mission.
Signal doesn't have shareholders. It doesn't have an ad-based business model. While other apps are trying to figure out how to monetize your "private" conversations, Signal is busy figuring out how to know as little about you as humanly possible.
The Myth of the "Phone Number" Problem
For years, the biggest gripe about Signal was the phone number. "If it's so private, why do I have to give them my digits?"
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That changed. Sorta.
As of 2024 and 2025, Signal rolled out usernames. You still need a phone number to register an account—mostly to stop spam bots from nuking the servers—but you don’t have to share it with anyone anymore. You can create a unique username, like @neon_glitch.99, and give that to people instead. Your phone number stays hidden by default from anyone who doesn't already have it in their contacts.
It’s a huge shift.
Before this, if you joined a group chat with 50 strangers, every one of them could see your personal number. Now? They just see your profile name and your username.
Why the Signal Protocol is the Gold Standard
You’ve probably heard of the "Signal Protocol." It sounds like something out of a spy movie, but it's actually the engine under the hood. It’s so good that even WhatsApp and Google Messages pay to use it.
But here is the catch: Signal implements it better.
While other apps might encrypt the content of your message, Signal goes a step further with something called "Sealed Sender." Basically, when you send a message, Signal’s servers don't even know who sent it. They only know where it’s supposed to go. It’s like sending a letter in a blank envelope inside another envelope.
The Money Question: Who Pays for This?
Building a global messaging platform is expensive. We’re talking millions of dollars a month in server costs and developer salaries.
So, where does the money come from?
- The Big Loan: Brian Acton, the guy who co-founded WhatsApp and then left Facebook in a huff over privacy issues, put up $50 million of his own money to start the Signal Technology Foundation. By late 2018, that loan grew to over $100 million.
- Donations: You might have noticed the app occasionally nudges you to "become a sustainer." Thousands of users pay a few bucks a month to keep the lights on.
- No VCs: Because it’s a 501(c)(3) non-profit, there is no exit strategy. No one is looking to sell Signal to Microsoft or Elon Musk.
This independence is their "killer feature." Meredith Whittaker, the current President of Signal and a former Google researcher, has been vocal about this. She argues that you cannot have true privacy in a company that is legally required to maximize profits.
What’s New in 2026?
The app has come a long way from its "TextSecure" days when it looked like a clunky tool for tech nerds.
If you haven’t checked it recently, the 2026 updates are pretty substantial. They finally added pinned messages, which was a weirdly long-time coming. More importantly, they’ve launched Signal Secure Backups.
In the past, if you lost your phone, your messages were gone forever. Period. Signal refused to store them on their servers. Now, they’ve built a way to do encrypted cloud backups where you hold the key. If you lose your phone, you can get your chats back, but Signal still can’t see them.
They also introduced Quantum Resistance.
That sounds like marketing fluff, but it’s actually a response to the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat. State actors are currently collecting encrypted data hoping that in ten years, a quantum computer will be able to crack it. Signal’s new PQXDH (Post-Quantum Extended Triple Diffie-Hellman) protocol is designed to withstand that future.
It’s Not Just for "Bad Actors"
There’s this annoying trope that only criminals or hackers use the secure messaging app Signal.
Tell that to the journalists at the New York Times who use it to talk to sources. Tell that to the Congressional staffers or the activists or just the parents who don't want their kids' photos living on a corporate server forever.
Privacy isn’t about having something to hide. It’s about having something to protect.
The Real-World Downside
Is it perfect? No.
Getting your grandmother to switch from WhatsApp is a nightmare. The user base is growing, but it’s still a fraction of the size of the "Big Tech" messengers.
Also, the backups are still a bit finicky. If you forget your Signal PIN and you lose your phone, those messages are gone. There is no "I forgot my password" button that can save you because Signal doesn't have access to your data. That's a feature for security, but a bug for convenience.
Actionable Steps for New Users
If you’re ready to jump in, don't just download it and stare at an empty contact list.
- Set your Username: Go to Settings > Profile. Create a username so you can stop giving out your phone number to people you barely know.
- Enable Registration Lock: This prevents someone from "hijacking" your number if they manage to get your SMS code. You’ll need your PIN to register on a new device.
- Check your Safety Numbers: For super-sensitive chats, tap the person's name and "View Safety Number." Compare the QR code. If it matches, it's impossible for a "Man-in-the-Middle" attack to be happening.
- Audit your Disappearing Messages: You can set a global timer so all your chats delete themselves after a week. It keeps your phone storage clean and your history private.
Signal isn't just about "encryption." It’s about the fact that your data is yours. In a world where every click and word is tracked, that’s a pretty radical concept.