Messaging app Signal witnessed a meteoric rise in downloads after Facebook-owned WhatsApp updated its privacy terms, sparking privacy concerns from users.
Signal is an encrypted app that lets you send messages and make calls via the Internet. Signal’s USP is its focus on privacy and supports group chats and group video calls too. Signal is open source and its code is peer-reviewed, which means that its privacy and security is regularly checked by independent experts The messaging app was downloaded almost 7.5 million times between 06th January and 10th January.
The app, which was also endorsed by billionaire Elon Musk, was downloaded almost 7.5 million times globally through the Apple App Store and Google Play store between 06th January and 10th January, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. This was a record for weekly – or even monthly – installs for Signal in its history.
Founders of Signal
WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton and former Twitter executive Mr Marlinspike launched the Signal Foundation in 2018 with Mr. Acton pumping in initial funding of $50 million. A computer science graduate from Stanford University, Mr. Acton founded WhatsApp in November 2009 with his friend Jan Koum after stints at Apple, Yahoo and Adobe. The messaging app was later acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19 billion.
About 810,000 users worldwide downloaded Signal on Sunday, an almost 18-fold increase compared with the downloads on 06th January, according to research firm Apptopia.
How to get started on Signal?
After downloading Signal from the app stores, users can set it up by adding their mobile number, entering the one-time-password, name and other basic details.
Users can also create groups similar to those in WhatsApp by tapping on three dots on the top right corner of the app. They need to manually add atleast one member to make it functional. Then go to the group setting and tap on ‘group link’ to get an invite link.
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