

Register your mobile number by entering it into the app, then clicking Activate This Device. You need to start with your mobile device because Signal is registered with your mobile number if you want to use it on Desktop as well, you’ll connect to your mobile device account after you’ve set it up. Go to and click on the link for your mobile platform. Step one is installing Signal on your mobile device. We’ve talked about why people are moving to it, so here’s a primer on how to use Signal Messenger.

That means it’s secure, not connected to Facebook or Google, and gives you the privacy you want with the convenience of other messengers apps. Signal is a free, open-source app for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows that uses your data to give you end-to-end encrypted communication between users. IPhone users can feel secure in using iMessage, but if you’re on Android or you have friends who are on Android, cross-platform conversations aren’t secure when you use SMS either. Removing the Facebook app is a good start to reducing the amount of information that the company is gathering about you, but the real damage happens in Messenger: Facebook is scanning every word, every gif, and every picture you send to help build a profile of you that they can sell to advertisers and use to manipulate your opinions by influencing what you see in your feed. It’s become more clear every day that engaging with any Facebook property isn’t good for your privacy.
