signal
Five useful tips for new users
For many users, Signal is now an alternative to WhatsApp
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Signal has gained millions of new users in the past few weeks. Here are five tips for those switching to WhatsApp and new users.
The Signal messenger app has been popular with tech-savvy users for several years, as it offers end-to-end encryption, is free and there is no advertising. However, after the criticism of WhatsApp at the beginning of the year, many new users decided to give the application a try. This was also evident from the significantly increased number of downloads. Signal reached in mid-January for the first time the milestone of 50 million app downloads in the Google Play Store alone. Also star entrepreneur Elon Musk (49) promoted the use of the program. Here are five practical functions at a glance.
Disappearing pictures, videos and messages
As in “Kobra, you take over” or other good spy series and films, Signal content can also destroy or delete itself – only no tape or the like goes up in smoke here. If you tap the name of a contact in the header, you can activate the disappearing messages here. You can then set a period between a few seconds and a week after which all posts are automatically deleted. It is also possible to display individual shared videos or photos only once, for example. To do this, simply select the relevant content and tap the infinity symbol before submitting. If it says “1x” here, a clip, for example, can only be played once by the recipient.
Another security feature is the screen lock. For example, if you pass your smartphone on to family, partner or friends to show them photos or the like, you can prevent them from gaining access to your own chat history. If the feature is activated, a user must first identify himself with a fingerprint, a specified PIN or the like in order to be able to use the app.
Personalize the messenger
If you want to give the app a bit of colorful flair, you can set up backgrounds for all chats in the settings. There is a whole range of ready-made selection options, but you can also use your own images. This can also be done individually for individual chats by tapping on the name of a contact. The tone for an incoming message can also be individually adjusted here.
As in many other messengers, users can also set up chat groups – with Signal with up to 1,000 members. To do this, users simply have to tap on the pencil symbol and then on “New group”. Either contacts or phone numbers can now be selected to add individuals. Then users can name the group and assign a picture to it.
Anyone who would like to use Signal on their computer also has the opportunity to do so. On the messenger’s website programs for Windows and Mac can be downloaded. Instructions for installation on Linux systems can also be found there. For use on a computer, however, it is assumed that Signal is also installed on your own smartphone.