Here is guide to use Signal and move from WhatsApp

Signal has seen a surge in downloads after WhatsApp’s infamous terms of service started showing up on people’s notifications. The app has already become the number one app on App Store in India and has seen over 10 million downloads on PlayStore. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, American whistleblower Edward Snowden and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey have publicly recommended using Signal. The app is available on Android, iOS, and desktop.

Signal app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google PlayStore. For iPhone users, The app works on iOS 9.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. For Android users, it works on Android 4 and higher versions.

Here is how users can download Signal app from Google PlayStore or Apple App Store:

-- Download and install Signal Private Messenger by Open WhisperSystems from App Store or Google PlayStore.

-- iPhone users should tap on ‘Get’ to download the app.

-- Select Install. iPhone users may be required to enter Apple ID credentials.

-- Tap on Open.

-- Enter phone number.

-- iPhone users will be required to select 'Activate This Device.'

-- Users will be required to enter a six-digit code that the app will send them via SMS.

-- Once users verify the code, tap on Submit. Users can manually verify the code or allow Signal to copy it directly.

-- Signal will then request permission to send notifications. Tap on Allow.

-- Users will be required to set their profile picture and name. This name will be shown to contacts on the app.

-- Tap on Save or Skip as per your requirement.

Signal will require the sender as well as the receiver to download the app.

Android users can also set Signal as their default app. This will help users keep their Signal messages and SMS in one place. To enable this option, users should tap on use as the default SMS app. Signal will, however, encrypt those messages that are not sent via the app, that is, Signal will encrypt messages only if both users have the Signal app.

Signal allows users to send end-to-end encrypted group, text, picture, and audio and video messages, and make encrypted audio and video calls.

To compose a message on Signal:

Signal will request permission to access contacts. Tap on Okay or Allow.

-- Users should select the contact and tap on the pen icon to type in a message on Signal. Users who do not have Signal will be sent a regular SMS. Users can also migrate groups to Signal from current messaging apps.

To initiate an end-to-end encrypted audio call:

-- Signal users can make encrypted calls to contact, by selecting that contact and then tapping on the phone icon. When the recipient accepts the call, users will see a small padlock icon next to the phone icon.

To initiate an end-to end encrypted video call

-- Users have to follow the same steps to initiate video calls on Signal. Users may have to allow Signal to access camera and microphone.