Signal
What it's for
An encrypted messenger for your texts, calls, video and groups. The direct replacement for WhatsApp, just as simple.
Why it matters
End-to-end encryption by default, non-profit, an audited protocol that is the world standard. Almost no metadata kept, and the team has pledged to leave the EU rather than install scanning.
For whom & when
Everyone, starting today. It’s the first and most useful step. One catch: a phone number, which you can hide behind a username.
Install & use
Install from signal.org (App Store, Google Play, or the direct APK on Android).
- Confirm your number by SMS, then set a PIN.
Settings > Privacy: create a username to hide your number, and turn on registration lock.
- Invite your contacts. On desktop, link the desktop app to your phone.
For important contacts, compare the safety number (in person or over another channel): it rules out a man-in-the-middle interception.