[#]: author: (Ankush Das https://itsfoss.com/author/ankush/)
Signal: A Secure, Open Source Messaging App
======
**_Brief: Signal is a secure open-source messaging app for smartphones. It also offers a standalone desktop app for Linux, Windows, and macOS_. _Here, we take a look at its features and usability._**
### Signal is an Excellent Alternative to WhatsApp (and Telegram) for Privacy Concerned People
![Signal App On Linux][1]
Signal is an open source application with a keen focus on privacy. It is recommended by privacy advocates like [Edward Snowden][2].
It may not have as many features as Telegram or WhatsApp – but if you want to enhance your privacy while having a conversation, this is a solid open-source solution.
You can install it on your smartphone ([iOS][3]/[Android][4]) and it is also available for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
### Features of Signal Messenger
**Note:** _Some of the features are specific/exclusive to smartphones. You may not observe all the features mentioned in the desktop app._
As I already mentioned, this is tailored to enhance your privacy. So, the user experience may not be the “best” you’ve ever seen. But, privacy/security-wise, I think it is a good option to have.
![Signal Features][5]
#### Disappearing Messages
You can set a timer for messages in a conversation – so that it will be automatically deleted as per the timer.
Essentially, anyone in the conversation can activate this feature. So, you control if the messages should stay in a conversation or disappear.
#### Use it As Default SMS App
If you want to utilize an open-source app for all your SMSs, you can simply go to Signal’s app settings and set it as the default for SMS and MMS.
#### Screen Security
There’s a neat feature to block screenshots in-app, “Screen Security”.
If you enable it, you won’t be able to take a screenshot of any conversation in the app. You can find the option to enable or disable it from the app settings.
It may not be useful to everyone – but you can try it out.
#### Safety Number
If you want to verify the security of your encryption with a friend, you can simply tap on the profile and scroll down to find “View Safety Number”.
You can either scan it to verify or simply take a look at it to mark it verified.
#### Locked Messages
If you protect the app with a lock (pin/fingerprint), even if your device has been unlocked, you won’t be able to see the messages on your notifications.
So, when you get a notification while Signal is locked, you will notice the content of the notification as “**Locked Message**” – which is a plus for privacy-oriented users.
#### Other Features
![][6]
As you would expect in a messaging app – you get a couple of stickers to utilize and you can also create a group if you want.
However, you won’t have the ability to moderate your group – you can just add members and change the profile picture.
In addition to this, Signal also supports biometric security for its app.
### Installing Signal on Ubuntu/Linux
Unfortunately, you don’t get a .**deb** or .**AppImage** to install it on your Linux distro. So, you will need to utilize the terminal as per the [official installation instructions][7].
Simply copy-paste the commands one by one in the terminal and you should be good to go.
[Download Signal for Other Devices][7]
### My Thoughts On Signal
I’ve been using Signal for a few years now and it has improved with what it offers. However, I still feel that the user experience can be improved.
Privacy-wise, it is definitely a good alternative to what we already have (in my opinion). You can give it a try and see how well it works for your usage.
You can also take a look at their [GitHub page][8] for the latest developments and beta releases if you want to try them out.
Signal app may not be a popular messaging app when compared to WhatsApp or even [Telegram on Linux][9]. But, you can try it for yourself and encourage your friends to use an open-source messaging app.
Have you tried it yet? Let me know what you think about the ‘Signal’ app in the comments below.
