Using Signal, you can communicate instantly while avoiding SMS fees, create groups so that you can chat in real time with all your friends at once, and share media or attachments all with complete privacy. The server never has access to any of your communication and never stores any of your data.
★ Say Anything. Signal uses an advanced end to end encryption protocol that provides privacy for every message every time.
★ Open Source. Signal is Free and Open Source, enabling anyone to verify its security by auditing the code. Signal is the only private messenger that uses open source peer-reviewed cryptographic protocols to keep your messages safe.
★ Be Yourself - Signal uses your existing phone number and address book. There are no separate logins, usernames, passwords, or PINs to manage or lose.
★ Group Chat. Signal allows you to create encrypted groups so you can have private conversations with all your friends at once. Not only are the messages encrypted, but the Signal server never has access to any group metadata such as the membership list, group title, or group icon.
★ Fast. The Signal protocol is designed to operate in the most constrained environment possible. Using Signal, messages are instantly delivered to friends.
★ Speak Freely - Make crystal-clear phone calls to people who live across town, or across the ocean, with no long-distance charges.
Signal is not currently compatible with tablets, but support for larger screens is on our roadmap and will be included in a future release!
The AU government is going to try like the UK government to put pressure on companies to weaken their end-to-end encryption to end-server-end encryption so the messages can be grabbed at the server.
So if their sponsor is one of those companies then the source code would have to be checked with a fine tooth comb every release.
EDIT:
So signal sends your phone number when you send someone a message. Other end-to-end services do not need to (eg wickr)
Signal does not send your phone number to anyone unless you send them a message
My understanding is that it does this when you are requesting they add you to their Signal contacts, not one you connect on Signal, but yes, this is how Signal users identify each other.
I donated yesterday . They are a non-profit as far as I know. No companies behind it.
There’s no way around this one, first of all: Signal doesn’t get these phonenumbers. They only use the hash of a phonenumber to connect you to people already in your address book. Not any different from sending someone a SMS.
The difference between WhatsApp and Signal is that WhatsApp (Facebook) makes a list of your phonenumbers to see who your contacts are etc. Signal is not doing that. They could make a “lunatic mode” where you personally need to connect one phone to the other to exchange keys etc. But like they say: an app that doesn’t connect you to your contacts will never make it.
They’re encrypting all profile info locally as well. So that’s again another big improvement compared to other apps out there.
The guy behind it is Moxie Marlinspike. It’s a really well known guy in the security field for many years …
Signal has much support from these people.
The guy behind it is one of the 2 that brought us the Double ratchet algorithm which seems tobe pretty neat and gives everey message another key (roughly exlpained ) …
. They are a non-profit as far as I know. No companies behind it.