Signal vs WhatsApp: what it is and what privacy features they offer

What seems to be one of the novelties of the year for WhatsApp, its change in the terms of use and privacy policy to share more information with Facebook, is actually a paradigm shift more than announced Facebook has been shouting from the four winds for years that WhatsApp is one of the cornerstones of its messaging services and that, inevitably, it will merge with the rest of the company's platforms, that is, Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct.

These changes, coming on February 8, will allow WhatsApp to integrate features like Facebook Pay and improve the targeting of the ads we see. However, the modification of the conditions of service also translates into a very significant loss of privacy But, is all lost? No. There are many alternatives on the market that are still out of the reach of large corporations. One of them is Signal. Do you have something to deal with WhatsApp?

Signal, a solvent alternative to WhatsApp that focuses on privacy

Putting Signal in front of WhatsApp can help you see to what extent it is a valid alternative. Signal is a messaging platform focused on privacy, with an operation very similar to WhatsApp but with different characteristics.

How WhatsApp and Signal are similar

Signal looks very similar to WhatsApp.

WhatsApp and Signal have the following similarities:

• Your Settings. Both apps need a phone number to work. In addition, they use a similar verification system, by sending a code by SMS or voice call.
• The content that can be sent. Signal follows in the wake of WhatsApp and allows you to send images, GIFs, contacts and the point where we are.
• It has calls and video calls. Like the Facebook app, Signal has voice calls and video calls to keep in touch with your friends and family.
• Point-to-point encryption in messages and calls. The two applications encrypt the content of our messages and calls.

Although this last point seems to equalize both applications in terms of privacy, their differences show that this is not the case.

How WhatsApp and Signal differ

Comparison of data obtained by WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, respectively.

WhatsApp and Signal have the following differences:

• Who's behind it Facebook is the owner of WhatsApp. Of course, Mark Zuckerberg's idea is to get the most out of this acquisition and, therefore, WhatsApp monitors everything you do, who you contact, where you are, and much more. Thus, it is much easier to segment it on Facebook and the rest of its services. Signal, for its part, does not track the user and the company that develops it is a non-profit foundation.
• Application for other devices Signal is available for iPad. It is also available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux (Debian distributions only). WhatsApp is still, after many years, anchored to the mobile phone and only offers a discreet Web version that, for the moment, depends on the main device being connected.
• The data you collect. Signal does not capture, analyze or store our data. Recent changes in the App Store reveal that WhatsApp knows very sensitive information, including financial situation, location and our purchases.

Signal's big problem against WhatsApp

Unfortunately, despite its great attributes, Signal has the same problem as other WhatsApp alternatives: it doesn't have a large enough user baseThe use of WhatsApp is almost a standard in many countries.This means that users who really care about privacy and want to make the leap to other solutions cannot do so. Currently, the dependence on WhatsApp is very high and this only strengthens Facebook's dominant position.