📺 Video Tutorial

🛡️ Why Signal Is Essential for Private Communication

Signal provides end-to-end encrypted messaging that even Signal can’t read. It’s the gold standard for secure communication, recommended by security experts worldwide.

• 🔒 End-to-end encryption – Only you and recipient can read messages
• 📱 No metadata collection – Signal doesn’t know who you talk to
• 🛡️ Open-source and audited – Cryptography experts verify security
• ⚡ Disappearing messages – Auto-delete for sensitive conversations

Download from: App Store (official Signal app)

💡 Setup Steps

Quick guide:

• 1️⃣ Install Signal from App Store
• 2️⃣ Register with your phone number
• 3️⃣ Set up registration lock PIN (Settings → Account)
• 4️⃣ Enable disappearing messages by default
• 5️⃣ Verify safety numbers with important contacts

💡 Signal Security & Privacy Tips

🎉 You’re now protected! Your messages are end-to-end encrypted.

Essential Signal Best Practices:

• 🔍 Enable registration lock to prevent SIM swap attacks
  Go to Settings → Account → Registration Lock. Set a strong PIN. This prevents attackers from registering Signal with your number on a different device after SIM swapping you. Without this, they can take over your Signal account and impersonate you. This is critical protection that most people skip.
• 🚫 Verify safety numbers for sensitive contacts
  Tap contact → View Safety Number. Compare the numbers in person, via video call, or through a separate secure channel. This confirms you’re actually talking to who you think you are, not a man-in-the-middle attacker. Do this for family, close friends, and anyone you discuss sensitive topics with. Mark as verified after confirming.
• 📱 Enable disappearing messages by default
  Settings → Privacy → Disappearing Messages → Set default timer (recommend 1 week or less). Messages auto-delete after the timer expires. This limits your exposure if your device is compromised. For highly sensitive conversations, use 1 hour or even 5 minutes. Screenshots can still be taken, so trust your contacts.
• ⚠️ Disable message previews in notifications
  Settings → Notifications → Show → Name Only (or No Name or Message). This prevents message content from appearing on your lock screen where anyone can see it. Your encrypted messages shouldn’t be visible to anyone looking over your shoulder or picking up your phone. This is basic operational security.
• 🔒 Enable screen security to prevent screenshots
  Settings → Privacy → Screen Security → Enable. This blocks screenshots and screen recording in Signal on Android. On iPhone, this feature isn’t available due to iOS limitations, but you can enable “Screen Lock” to require Face ID/Touch ID to open Signal. Every layer of protection helps.
• 📊 Use sealed sender to hide metadata
  Settings → Privacy → Sealed Sender → Enable for everyone. This hides who you’re messaging from Signal’s servers. Normally Signal knows who sends messages to whom (but not the content). Sealed sender removes even this metadata. Enable it for maximum privacy, though it may slightly delay message delivery.
• 🌐 Disable link previews for sensitive conversations
  When you send a link, Signal fetches a preview. This reveals to Signal (and potentially the website) that you’re sharing that link. For sensitive links, disable link previews in Settings → Chats → Generate Link Previews. Share the raw URL instead and let recipients decide if they want to visit it.
• 🛡️ Use Signal for voice and video calls too
  Signal’s voice and video calls are end-to-end encrypted, unlike regular phone calls or FaceTime (which Apple can access). Use Signal calls for sensitive conversations instead of cellular voice. The audio quality is excellent on good connections. Enable “Always Relay Calls” in Privacy settings to hide your IP address from contacts.
• ⚡ Set up a Signal PIN for encrypted backups
  Settings → Account → Signal PIN. This enables encrypted cloud backups of your messages. If you lose your iPhone, you can restore your message history on a new device. Without a PIN, you lose all messages when switching devices. Use a strong PIN different from your registration lock PIN and store it securely.
• 🔍 Review and limit who can see your profile
  Settings → Privacy → Profile → Who can see my profile. Set to “Nobody” or “My Contacts” to prevent random people from seeing your profile photo and about info. Also disable “Read Receipts” and “Typing Indicators” if you want maximum privacy about when you’re active and reading messages.
• 📱 Use Signal usernames instead of phone numbers
  Signal now supports usernames. Create one in Settings → Profile → Username. Share your username instead of your phone number for new contacts. This adds a layer of privacy – people can message you without knowing your phone number. Your number stays private and you can change usernames anytime.
• 🔒 Enable Face ID/Touch ID lock for Signal
  Settings → Privacy → Screen Lock → Enable. Require Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode to open Signal. This protects your messages if someone gets physical access to your unlocked iPhone. Set the timeout to “Instant” for maximum security – Signal locks immediately when you leave the app.

Remember: Signal is only as secure as your device. Keep your iPhone locked, updated, and use a strong passcode.