I have an iPhone, but the features will be the same on the Android version. Now that we have the app installed and running let’s take a look at the smartphone features. This means you can send and respond to messages using your keyboard, as well as all messages being synced across linked devices. Scan the code with your smartphone Signal QR scanner, and now the two devices will be linked. Now open your desktop Signal, which will give you a QR code to scan. Now go to your smartphone Signal settings and go to Linked Devices–>Link New Device. Link Your Desktop Signal With Your Smartphone Signal It will then see who has a Signal account and add them to your Signal chat list. The app needs to check your contacts list to see who in your contacts is already using Signal. Give Signal Permission To Look At Your Contacts If it is a code via an automated call, you need to enter the code manually. If an SMS and Signal is installed on your phone, it picks up the incoming SMS right away and activates. You will then have the choice of an SMS or an automated phone call to ensure you actually have this number. Add your phone number (including country code) and click “ Activate Device.” The next step involves opening up the installed smartphone app and registering your phone number with the Signal servers. Open The Smartphone App & Register Your Phone Number Download and install the Signal program on your desktop and smartphone. At that link are also the versions for iOS and Android. Install on either Windows or Mac (there is a Linux version, but it involves a script, so go to the Signal website for that). Which is one phone number to one Signal account at a time. But right now, you have to work with what they give you. This makes anonymity rather difficult and might require someone to get a totally new SIM card just for Signal.Ī better solution would be to tie the Signal account to a throwaway email address. You must be in their phone contacts for Signal to find you. To use it, you must reveal your phone number to the other caller. There is one inherent weakness with Signal. Set Up Signal On Your Smartphone For More Secure Conversations Signal keeps no logs either, so if the government came calling for your phone logs, there would be nothing to give them. The difference is it is not owned by a for-profit company, and every message and phone call you make is heavily encrypted.

Signal is a free chat app, extremely similar to WhatsApp.

Signal messenger security