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 can 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.
Table of Contents
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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Tap on Account.
- Select Create a PIN and set it up if you haven’t already.
- Once the PIN is set, enable the toggle next to Registration Lock.
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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Select Privacy, then tap on Phone number.
- Under Who can see my number, select Nobody.
If you also want to prevent others from finding your profile by searching with your phone number, enable the Nobody option under Who 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 to backup 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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- Toggle Screen Lock on.
- Choose the lock activation time.
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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Go to Privacy.
- Toggle on Screen Security.
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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Go to Notifications.
- Select Show and set it to No name or message or No message.
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:
- Open any chat on Signal.
- Tap the contact name or group title.
- Select Disappearing messages and set the desired time interval.
To set a default disappearing message timer for all contacts:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- Tap on Default timer for new chats.
- Choose the time from the next screen.
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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Go to Privacy.
- Select Advanced.
- Toggle on Always relay calls.
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:
- Open iPhone Settings.
- Select Apps > Signal > Privacy.
- Toggle off the option next to Sync contacts with iOS.
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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Go to Privacy.
- Toggle on Incognito Keyboard.
Also Read: A look at how to use Signal app as 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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Go to Chats.
- Toggle off Generate link previews.
11. Limiting Linked devices
Adding more linked devices to your Signal account can increase the risk of potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, there have been various issues 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:
- Open Signal Settings.
- Go to Linked Devices.
- Review and unlink any devices you no longer use.
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 a phishing 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.
