Whatsapp vs Signal: Find out which social media messaging service app is better

On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, most of social media users woke up to an in-app tification from WhatsApp informing m about platform’s updated policies (terms of service and privacy). new updated policies have been made mandatory to accept if you want to continue using app. This sudden change in WhatsApp policies t only invited a lot of backlash on social media but many users were also worried as re didn’t seem to be many options for people who wanted to stop using WhatsApp and wished to switch to ar platform. Here’s what happened.

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New WhatsApp policy explained

“WhatsApp is updating its terms and privacy policy,” reads tification that popped up on app. It furr tified users that changes will come into effect from February 8, 2021, onwards. It is also important to kw that WhatsApp new policy tification was sent to both Android and iOS users. updated WhatsApp Privacy Policy mentions processing of user data, and how businesses can use Facebook hosted services to store and man ir WhatsApp chats, and how company partners with Facebook. All users who have t agreed to ir new policy, you will longer be able to use WhatsApp post Feb 8.

Screenshot from Android of new WhatsApp update

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Signal is a new alternative for WhatsApp users

Ever since users started receiving WhatsApp tification, a new messaging service app called Signal has been going viral on internet. According to its official website, Signal is a cross-platform encrypted messaging service developed by  Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC. Like WhatsApp, Signal app uses  Internet to send one-to-one and group messs, which can include files, voice tes, ims and videos. It can also be used to make one-to-one and group voice and video calls. android version of this app can optionally function as an SMS app.

For all those who are wondering wher this brand new app is free? Yes, Signal app is in fact free. It is actually, an open-source software application for Android, iOS, and Desktop that employs end-to-end encryption.

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WhatsApp vs Signal: Which messaging app is better?

Since past two days, netizens on Twitter have been talking about Signal app. In addition to this, tech billionaire Elon Musk himself tweeted saying, ‘Use Signal’ to his followers, deeming that WhatsApp was longer safe. On Twitter, re have been general beliefs and claims that Signal is more secure than WhatsApp but Apple’s new privacy labels give a clear picture of same. Moreover, WhatsApp is more an independent platform. It is owned by Facebook. Hence, Signal is being considered as a WhatsApp alternative.

According to a report in Business Insider, data collected by WhatsApp includes Phone Number, Email Address, Contacts, Coarse Location, Device ID, User ID, Advertising Data, Purchase History, Product Interaction, Payment Info, Crash Data, Performance Data, Or Diagstic Data, Customer Support, Product Interaction, Or User, Content, Metadata. This is significantly more than what is being asked by or alternative apps. On contrary, at moment Signal is t asking for anything.  platform only requires user’s phone number for registration but doesn’t link it directly to ir identity.

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If one would check app on App Store it states that re is data linked to you. However, ar major difference between two platforms is that Signal is open source, which WhatsApp is t. report reveals that an open-source software is a type of computer software in which source code is released under a license. Under this license, copyright holder grants users rights to use, study, change, and distribute software to anyone and for any purpose. Hence many a time open-source software may be developed in a collaborative public manner.