14 Tips to Improve Privacy and Security on Signal App

Signal is known for being a privacy-respecting messaging platform but some privacy features are disabled by default. Enabling these Signal privacy and security features will further seal potential leak of data. Here’s everything you’re able to do to improve the security and privacy of your Signal app.

Note:You don’t need to enable every feature mentioned here, as some come with significant drawbacks. Consider your specific needs and enable features that align with your use case.

1. Setup a Signal PIN and Registration Lock

You are prompted to set up a ping when you register for Signal. This PIN is essential for recovering your profile, settings, contacts, and more when you sign in on a new device. You can also enable a registration lock which adds an extra layer of security.

Even if someone has access to your device and SMS messages, they won’t be able to access your Signal profile without the PIN. However, the registration lock is disabled by default. To set up both the PIN and registration lock on your Signal account, follow these steps:

2. Hide Phone Number from Your Signal Contacts

Signal requires your phone number for registration, but it doesn’t have to be visible to your contacts. If you prefer to hide it, Signal provides an option. To hide your phone number, follow these steps:

If you also want to prevent others from finding your profile by searching with your phone number, enable theNobodyoption underWho can find me by number. Keep in mind that enabling this setting limits how others can find you on Signal.

Pro Tip:A guide on how tobackup and restore Signal messages.

3. Enable App Lock for Signal

By default, anyone with access to your phone can easily open the Signal app and view your messages. To prevent this, Signal offers the option to lock the app, using your device’s biometrics like Face ID or a fingerprint scanner for unlocking. However, the lock cannot be set to activate immediately—the minimum delay is 1 minute. To set up a lock for your Signal app, follow these steps:

4. Enable App Switcher Privacy Setting

When switching between apps, Signal may display a preview of your content on the app switcher screen. This means that even with an app lock, others can still view details from the app switcher. To prevent this, you can enable the screen security feature. However, a major downside is that enabling this feature disables the ability to take screenshots or record the screen within the app. To enable screen security, follow these steps:

5. Control What Appears in Signal Notifications

By default, Signal displays message previews in your notifications. You can enhance privacy by hiding the content or even the sender’s name. To control what appears in Signal notifications, follow these steps:

6. Enable Disappearing Messages

Disappearing messages automatically delete after a set period, helping to protect sensitive information by ensuring old conversations are inaccessible. To enable disappearing messages in Signal, follow these steps:

To set a default disappearing message timer for all contacts:

7. Relaying Calls Through Signal

Signal calls are already encrypted, but your IP address may still be visible to your ISP or VPN service. If you prefer to mask your IP address and protect your identity, you can relay your calls through Signal’s servers. To enable this feature, follow these steps:

8. Not Syncing contacts with iOS

On iOS, Signal can sync your contacts by default, allowing the app to access your phone book. If you prefer to keep your Signal contacts separate from your system contacts, you can disable contact syncing. To turn off contact syncing on iOS, follow these steps:

9. Incognito Keyboard on Android

Most keyboard apps track what you type to offer suggestions or use the data for other purposes. However, on Android, Signal provides an option to request that keyboard apps don’t track your typing when using the app. This isn’t a hard-coded restriction but rather a request that the keyboard app can choose to honor or ignore. To enable this feature, follow these steps:

Also Read:A look at how touse Signal appas your daily driver.

10. Disabling Link Previews

When link previews are enabled, your phone sends details like your IP address to the website to generate the preview, even if you haven’t clicked on the link. This allows random websites to collect your data just because the link preview feature is on. Disabling it prevents your device from reaching out to these websites, though it doesn’t directly improve security—it’s a preference some people like to have. To disable link previews in Signal, follow these steps:

11. Limiting Linked devices

Adding more linked devices to your Signal account can increase the risk of potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, there have been variousissues reported with the Signal desktop app. While it’s useful to have multiple linked devices for convenience, it’s a good idea to minimize the number of devices connected to your account to reduce potential points of failure. To review and manage your linked devices, follow these steps:

12. Obfuscating Your Phone Number

For complete privacy, it’s better to use a different phone number with Signal. In the summer of 2022, Twilio, the company that handles Signal’s phone number verification, experienced aphishing attack. As a result, many Signal users’ phone numbers were exposed. To keep your Signal information private, using a different phone number—one that isn’t tied to your personal identity—is a more secure option.

Privacy with Signal

In conclusion, while Signal offers strong encryption and privacy features, there are additional steps you can take to further safeguard your data and identity. Whether it’s managing linked devices, disabling link previews, or even using a different phone number, these precautions can help enhance your overall security. Staying informed and making these adjustments ensures you’re getting the most out of Signal’s privacy-focused design.

Ravi Teja KNTS

Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.

14 Tips to Improve Privacy and Security on Signal App