Signal utilizes end-to-end encryption, ensuring that content and metadata in user messages remain private and are not stored on its servers. This means only the intended recipient can read messages. Cybersecurity experts emphasize that, unlike major tech companies that regularly comply with government data requests, Signal has refused such compliance because they lack access to sensitive user data. This empowers users with a uniform privacy experience across devices, safeguarding their communications from potential government intrusion or unauthorized access.
"It's set up that the encryption key is local on your phone, so not even the people that run Signal can get to your data," said Aaron Pritz, CEO of cybersecurity firm Reveal Risk. Because Signal "doesn't have the encryption keys, they can't provide to government entities or whatnot, the ability for them to pull the data."
In contrast, take what happened to Signal when it got a subpoena by a U.S. government attorney in 2021 to hand over data about one of its users. Signal could only share when the account was created and the date that the account was last connected to the Signal service."
As Signal states, because of end-to-end encryption, "Signal doesn't have access to your messages; your chat list; your groups; your contacts; your stickers; your profile name or avatar; or even the GIFs you search for."
One other Signal advantage? Signal gives all users the same privacy experience, regardless of which devices people use. "Everyone has the same settings [on Signal]..."
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