Latest news with #SignalProtocol
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Forbes
Signal Messenger: A Powerful Tool—But Not A Magic Bullet
If you're keeping an eye on cybersecurity—or, frankly, the news cycle—you've likely heard of Signal. The encrypted messaging app has long been the go-to choice for journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users. But it recently found itself thrust into the political spotlight for a very different reason: a scandal involving Trump cabinet and government officials using Signal to discuss sensitive, debatably classified, military operations—and inadvertently looping a journalist into the conversation. This eyebrow-raising breach of national security has also became a cultural moment for Signal. News of the incident exploded across media outlets and social platforms, prompting a dramatic spike in Signal downloads as the public's curiosity about encrypted communication tools reignited. Yet buried in the noise is a more nuanced truth: while Signal is a phenomenal app for private conversations, it's not invincible—and it was never meant to be used for classified or mission-critical communication. Signal's story begins with a commitment to privacy at its core. Created by Open Whisper Systems and later championed by the nonprofit Signal Foundation, Signal emerged as the brainchild of cryptographer Moxie Marlinspike. By pioneering the Signal Protocol—an open-source end-to-end encryption framework—the team paved the way for stronger privacy across the broader messaging ecosystem. In fact, the Signal Protocol is also used in apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Facebook Messenger for their encrypted messaging modes. But unlike many tech solutions, Signal isn't built to generate profit or harvest data. Instead, it operates thanks to grants, donations, and its dedicated user base. This nonprofit, open-source approach fosters trust and transparency. Anyone with the skills can audit the code, examine its encryption protocols, or contribute to its evolution. 1. End-to-End Encryption Signal's flagship feature is its end-to-end encryption (E2EE), which ensures that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages—no middleman, including Signal itself, can access the contents. That's a significant layer of protection against interception or surveillance. 2. Disappearing Messages Users can configure messages to self-delete after a set amount of time, limiting the risk of sensitive conversations sitting idle on a device. While it's not foolproof—screenshots, backups, or physical access can still expose information—it adds another layer of protection. 3. Metadata Minimization Signal goes to great lengths to reduce metadata, the often-overlooked byproduct of digital communication. It doesn't store message contents or contact logs and employs techniques like sealed sender to further obscure traffic patterns. Still, complete metadata invisibility isn't technically possible. Signal isn't just popular among tech-savvy users—it has earned the trust of people who have the most to lose from surveillance. Investigative journalists, political dissidents, whistleblowers, and human rights activists rely on Signal to protect sources, organize efforts, and preserve anonymity. It offers peace of mind in countries where expression can carry dangerous consequences—which is also why it is currently gaining popularity in the United States. At the same time, its clean, intuitive design makes it equally attractive to the average consumer looking to escape the surveillance economy. There's no advertising, no data profiling, and no creepy targeted content. Just encrypted chat, voice, and video calling, available on Android, iOS, and desktop computers. Despite its strengths, Signal is not a silver bullet. And as the cabinet official scandal shows, misusing even the best tools can have serious consequences. 1. Metadata Leakage Through Network Observation While Signal tries to obscure user metadata, internet service providers and global surveillance networks can still glean behavioral patterns—such as when you're online, how often you message certain contacts, or your physical location based on IP address. These breadcrumbs can be surprisingly revealing. 2. Device Compromise Nullifies Encryption Signal's encryption is only effective if your device is secure. If your phone is compromised—whether via malware, spyware, or someone gaining physical access—attackers can read decrypted messages directly from the screen or memory. Pegasus-style spyware doesn't break encryption; it sidesteps it entirely. 3. Human Error Remains the Weakest Link Signal can't save you from yourself. Reusing weak passcodes, falling for phishing attempts, or accidentally adding the wrong participant to a group chat (as seen in the 'SignalGate' incident) can all undermine even the most secure platforms. 4. Not Fit for Classified Government Use Encryption is just one aspect of securing sensitive or classified communications. Government protocols require strict chain-of-custody procedures, specialized hardware, and compliance with classified handling frameworks—none of which Signal is designed to support. While it's 'secure enough' for everyday communication, it is not certified for handling state secrets, and treating it as such introduces significant national security risk. It's easy to conflate privacy with invulnerability. But cybersecurity doesn't work like that. No app can completely remove risk. Even Signal's creators have been candid about the platform's limitations. They've engineered it for everyday privacy—not espionage. That doesn't mean you shouldn't use Signal. In fact, you probably should. It's one of the most secure and ethical options for personal messaging on the market. But treat it as one piece of your security toolkit—not the whole kit. Use strong passwords. Keep your OS updated. Pair it with a VPN if you're especially cautious. And if your communication involves trade secrets or government intel, follow the channels designed to handle that level of sensitivity. The Signal controversy is a case study in how the best tools can still be misused—and misunderstood. Encryption protects content, but not context. Signal doesn't grant anonymity, and it certainly doesn't grant impunity. The viral attention and surge in app downloads after the 'SignalGate' scandal highlight a paradox: as more people become aware of digital privacy, fewer understand its limits. Signal remains a standout success in the push for privacy-respecting technology. Its open-source ethos, commitment to user security, and accessibility make it an essential tool in today's digital landscape. But it's not built for every purpose—and certainly not for classified operations. With heightened digital surveillance and eroding privacy norms, the real challenge isn't finding 'unbreakable' tools. It's developing digital literacy about the tools we have. Encryption is critical—but so is understanding its boundaries. Signal offers privacy. You have to bring the security mindset.
Sky News
25-03-2025
- Sky News
What is Signal? The app where US officials accidentally shared war plans with a journalist
The security of messaging app Signal was compromised by human error when top US officials accidentally added a journalist to their group chat. But what is Signal - and did Donald Trump's team break the rules by using it? Signal is a secure messaging app that is end-to-end encrypted, meaning conversations on the platform can't be accessed by anyone except the people in the chat. Even Signal itself cannot see what is said. Although end-to-end encryption is now fairly common, with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Telegram all offering it, Signal was ahead of its time and began offering secure messaging in 2013. The encryption technology it uses, called the Signal Protocol, is now considered the industry standard. It aims to "end-to-end encrypt everything that we possibly can and to store as little [user data] as possible", according to Signal Foundation president Meredith Whittaker and developer Joshua Lund. The non-profit's ethos of customer privacy has made it a go-to messaging platform for secure conversations. 0:57 Signal is also open-source, which means its users can check that the platform is actually doing what it says it is doing. It is also unable to hand over information to law enforcement authorities, which some other encrypted messaging platforms do, because it can't break its own encryption. "Signal protects all of this with strong encryption so even if Signal is threatened or coerced, Signal can't hand over that kind of data," Ms Whittaker said recently. That became a sensitive topic for the Home Office in February after it was reported the UK government tried to force Apple to create a backdoor to its end-to-end encryption. However, despite its focus on data privacy, Signal is still a commercial app and is not classified by US officials. According to US media, some officials were allowed to download Signal on their White House-issued phones under Joe Biden's administration but were told never to share classified information on it. Messaging apps "are NOT authorised to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information", Pentagon rules state. 1:08 When Trump officials accidentally included the editor of The Atlantic in a group chat where they discussed conducting airstrikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, it was not immediately clear if information on the military operation was classified. However, information like this often is and would usually be kept secure to protect service members and operational security. Brian Hughes, spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the veracity of the Signal group. "This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," he said.
