What is Signal and what advantages does it offer compared to WhatsApp and Telegram?

The application has become an alternative for people who do not want to stay on the platform of the group Facebook Inc.

After WhatsApp announced changes to its terms and conditions, thousands of users have decided to migrate to other online instant messaging platforms.

Among all the options available, it is the Signal app that saw the most growth, an American app recently promoted by businessman Elon Musk, Telegraph reports.

The application was formed in 2013, when a group of activists decided to ban corporations that do not respect computer security and privacy.

One of the main aspects that make this platform strong is that it is not for profit, as they do not charge for using the app and do not sell information to third parties.

Also, another advantage is that the messages are "protected" while surfing the Internet until they reach the recipient.

Other personalities like Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter and computer security experts like Edward Snowden and Bruce Schneier also recommended this application, exposing its main advantages in social networks.

To access the service, the user will be asked to enter his phone number; however, its functions allow identification of sending and receiving messages from unknown contacts.

In addition, Signal has an open source system, which allows anyone to access the application code. This aspect guarantees that it is a secure platform, as experts will be able to verify that there are no functions that steal data or information.

And speaking of data, as of February 8, WhatsApp will ask its users to accept the new privacy policy to continue using the service.

This update means that the app will be able to share personal customer information with Facebook and other Mark Zuckerberg Group platforms.

In fact, the changes coincide with new labels the App Store has placed on the WhatsApp app, which warn that the service collects contacts, commercial data when using Facebook, and even the user's IP or geographic address.

In addition, it is specified that not only information will be collected from the main user, but also from their contacts or third parties.

Amid this controversy, the preferences of Internet users are divided. While some decided to ignore WhatsApp's new terms, others chose to look for alternatives in the market.

Another platform that has accumulated a large number of downloads in the application stores is Telegram, developed in 2013 by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov.

There are "channels" through which messages can be broadcast to an unlimited number of people. They are similar to groups, with the difference that only the administrator can write in the chat.

In addition, one of its benefits is that it can be opened simultaneously on different devices, unlike WhatsApp.

Although it is a fact that more and more people are thinking of moving from this company, WhatsApp continues to be more popular, which can represent a difficulty when communicating with friends, family or work colleagues.

Another disadvantage is that Telegram does not allow its users to conduct group video conferences despite having the option of video calls.

In addition, if you have used WhatsApp before, you will encounter the complication of transferring data from the American application to the new platform. /Telegraph/