What is Signal?

Signal Messenger is an ethical and sustainable messaging and calling application that I´ve been happily using as my sole private communication choice since December 2019. It is owned by an independent (not tied to any major tech company) and 501c3 nonprofit foundation called Signal Technology Foundation.

Signal Technology Foundation was founded by Brian Acton (WhatsApp co-founder) and Moxie Marlinspike (cybersecurity scientist), whose mission is to develop privacy- and freedom of expression-focused technology that is accessible to all.

Edward Snowden is an American whistleblower, former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, who in 2013 revealed extensive internet and phone surveillance by US intelligence. Since then he´s lived in asylum in several foreign countries.

I don´t like Twitter as a company because it shares all kinds of problems inherent to Big Tech, but I do not condemn anyone for using their products – I personally still use a few “Big” Tech apps because haven't found better alternatives yet.

Signal members who left “Big” Tech

WhatsApp founders, Brian Acton and Jan Koum, have decided to leave Facebook Inc (which acquired WhatsApp in 2014) back in 2017/2018, for disagreements with company policies on the use of user data by the applications owned by Facebook Inc. The most popular apps owned by Facebook Inc are Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger.

By the way, Facebook Inc recently banned Signal ads that aimed to show Facebook Inc users which type of personal data is collected about them to be sold to advertisers. The Signal foundation is against monetization of personal user data, as illustrated in its first global marketing campaign.

The third member of the Signal foundation board is a female scientist, Meredith Whittaker, who studies “Big” Tech and the social implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Meredith worked 13 years for Google, and before resigning from the company co-organized the "2018 Google Walkouts" protest. It mobilized more than 20 000 Google employees worldwide against Google's deprecated culture regarding complaints for sexual misconduct and citizen surveillance. Next are a few examples why Google didn´t seem to care.

What does organizing mean? Check on Investopedia.

WhatsApp Moderators 🤯

Signal features not found on WhatsApp

At least when I checked on January 2021

• Sending messages to yourself (through a fictitious contact named "Note to Self" – search for it on your contact list).

• Calling (incl. video) from your PC, by means of Signal desktop app (downloadable from signal.org/download).

• Using the application when your mobile phone is turned off or doesn't have internet connection. You can achieve that via Signal desktop app, which is synchronized with the mobile counterpart.

• If you get a new phone number you can change the number associated to your Signal account, under Account settings, and your contacts will be notified 👇🏻.

Cryptocurrency payments on Signal

The first payments protocol added to Signal is a privacy-focused network called MobileCoin, which has a native carbon-negative cryptocurrency with the same name (MOB). The next video can also be watched on ChainSafe.

Signal Payments links a MobileCoin non-custodial wallet to Signal so you can start sending money to your contacts, receive funds from them, keep track of your balance and review your transaction history. You can also transfer your funds to another wallet, for instance to exchange your MOB for another digital currency. All this while using a simple interface.

To get your MOB wallet address on Signal, go to Settings — Payments — Add funds.

MobileCoin’s design means Signal does not have access to your balance, full transaction history, or funds (ref)

MobileCoin is a private payment system that works directly with messaging apps on your phone or desktop. It’s cryptocurrency made for everyone (ref)

How to put MobileCoin (MOB) into your Signal wallet

Support Signal / Promote your art

If you like the Signal project and wanna support it (beyond using the app and spreading the word), you might want to:

• Contribute to the programming code — Signal project is open-source.

• Share your ideas (or like others’) for new features.

• Help translate Signal software.

• Donate (cryptocurrencies allowed).

• Use Signal Desktop's sticker pack creator to have your own sticker pack in Signal — follow these guidelines and share your art with the World.

Mozilla’s *Privacy Not Included Guide

See how compromised is privacy in products / apps from different categories (click on the image to see the ranking), according to Mozilla, and check Signal’s creepiness.

New year, new CEO

Another example of how sustainable technology should be. Built by great leaders 💜

It’s a new year, and I’ve decided it’s a good time to replace myself as the CEO of Signal. I have now been working on Signal for almost a decade. It has always been my goal for Signal to grow and sustain beyond my involvement, Moxie Marlinspike

Relevant News

References