7 Reasons Why To Switch From WhatsApp To Signal

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There were times when we texted our friends on our Nokia phones. Text messages were a huge thing back then with that famous alpha-numeric keypad. Gradually, more services started to introduce like MMS, Video calling and using the internet and social applications on the phone.

Things took a drastic change when Smartphones came, and with that came new text messaging services. Everyone would then switch from their traditional text messages to WhatsApp and Messenger texts.

Why? Because it saves costs, lets you send and receive pictures and videos, do voice/video calls, and much more. Things were going pretty smoothly until Facebook acquired WhatsApp with a crazy amount of money.

All of a sudden, the secure and encrypted WhatsApp started to show its security flaws. Imagine texting a stranger from WhatsApp and seeing their Facebook friend suggestion later on.

Things were fishy, especially right after WhatsApp recently announced that they had introduced a new privacy policy. That policy sparked controversy, and people lost faith in this social application.

So what did people do? They started to uninstall WhatsApp after such long years of usage and began switching to Signal messenger.

But, why Signal? Why should you now switch from WhatsApp to Signal?

What Is Signal?

Before going towards whataboutery, let’s talk about Signal. After all, you must know where you are heading.

So, Signal Messenger is an open-source, cool, and secure messaging application that provides full-fledged security and almost all those features WhatsApp has been providing.

The app gained such popularity that the European Commission persuaded their staff to install Signal.

Reasons To Switch:

Here are some reasons why switching to Signal would be better now.

1. The Encryption, Of course:

Duh, the biggest reason you are saying adios to dear WhatsApp is that it failed to provide you the privacy and security you were offered. Well, Signal has not disappointed us in this matter.

The users enjoy end-to-end encryption, and this time, it’s real. Just like WhatsApp, your decrypted messages store in an encrypted capsule inside your local storage. But, as Signal doesn’t provide cloud backup storage, it merely burns away the data.

2. The Vanishing Messages:

Signal also took some inspiration from Snapchat/Instagram and introduced disappearing and view-once media options. Simply send the media, let the user watch it, and BOOM! The disappearing messages inside Signal are there for some time. You set the time. After that time, your messages vanish.

But hey, I have heard that we can screenshot or screen record a disappearing message. What about it? Again, Signal impressed me when I saw its No-screenshot option. The Signal’s screen security option blocks other apps or even you to take a screenshot of your chats. Well, that’s security for you.

3. The Screen Locking:

There is a screen lock option in Signal that allows users to set a pin to this messenger. However, this service is also available on WhatsApp, but since we are switching from it, it’s essential to have such features on the new Signal app.

4. The ‘Blurring It Away’:

My most favorite Signal feature was the blur option. Sometimes, during business or friends’ conversations, we have to blur content out of our pictures. It works great even when you have to send document pictures. The mechanism is simple, add a media to send, tap on the blur option, and Signal will automatically blur out the contents. If you think the blurring should be less or more, you can use your fingers to adjust the settings.

5. The Keyboard Privacy:

Did you know that Gboard also takes a typing history record in their database? Whatever you type on it, they know. Once again, Signal surprised us when it introduced its incognito keyboard that wouldn’t let Gboard sneak into what you’re typing. In short, you won’t receive offers about new shoe deals on Facebook and Google like you do when using WhatsApp.

6. The Security Claims:

Signal messenger is fully open-source. It doesn’t hide any of its hidden permissions from the user. Anyone can easily review the source code of Signal. In this way, you get to know where the security of Signal messaging lies.

Moreover, Signal is less vulnerable to threats and spyware as compared to WhatsApp. WhatsApp had already been in a spyware attack back in 2019. The issue is that WhatsApp is a closed-source application, which makes it difficult to detect what’s coming on its way until it is too late.

7. The Calling Magic:

There is a cool calling option that I found on Switch. Whenever someone calls you through Switch, a text-based message appears on the screen. Well, that message is to confirm that encryption is intact and there is no third party intercepting your calls.

To make it simple, simply ask the calling party to confirm the text they received and check if both of you received the same text code. If the code is the same, then all is well. But if not, then hang the call-up and switch to some other network, perhaps.

Signal Vs. WhatsApp:

So, we have thoroughly explained why Signal has better security than WhatsApp. Now let’s discuss some common media features in Signal.

First of all, you get the same texting features on Signal. You can send pictures, voice notes, videos, music, or anything. Signal also lets you transmit your current location, but the Live location option is currently missing.

Moreover, you get groups in Signal too, and you can do group voice and video calls. You get a limited share of stickers, but Signal assures to introduce more GIFs and stickers soon.

From a business POV, WhatsApp has emerged to be an excellent marketplace, especially after introducing UPI-based payment options and linking of bank accounts. WhatsApp also features a broadcast list option and a separate WhatsApp Business app to make it a more significant marketplace.

However, Signal has no ties with the marketplace, and it doesn’t include any business features at all. There is no broadcast list either.

What Do We Conclude?

There’s nothing much to conclude. WhatsApp, although it has still Worldwide popularity and it wouldn’t be diminishing any soon. But if you are obsessed with security (and you should be), Signal would be a fine choice, and is our recommended messenger here on TechSpade. Signal is growing day by day, and soon we get to see more people recommending it. At least Elon did it.

7 Reasons Why To Switch From WhatsApp To Signal