After WhatsApp updated its privacy policy and Elon Musk tweet, the Signal app has got an enormous boost in downloads. Also, the privacy policy of Facebook is yet another reason for people are looking for an alternative to WhatsApp.
Moving to a new messenger app is not an easy task for everyone. WhatsApp is the most popular messenger app available for almost all platforms. It is an easy-to-use connecting medium to talk and chat with people. If you are a privacy-concerned person, I must suggest Signal as the most secured messenger app available.
Signal is the most secured messaging app and is trusted by millions of users worldwide. The app only asks the user’s phone number to get started and nothing else is required or stored in the Signal servers.
What are the permissions required to use Signal?
There are a few permissions Signal asks for during the setup. The most common permission is asking to share your contact list. Usually, these apps ask your contacts list for several reasons. The most common use is to tell other people are using the same service. Privacy-wise, it is fair to ask your contacts list to share. The Signal doesn’t store or use this information in their servers.
If you don’t give Signal access to your contacts, the app is unable to know who you know. You will have to wait for those people to contact you or use “Find by Phone Number” and type in someone’s phone number to contact them.
In this article, we will learn how to use Signal without sharing your contacts.
In the signup, Signal requests for a contact list. But it is not mandatory to give the contact list to the Signal app. During the process, you can absolutely deny the request of accessing the contacts list. You can do it by clicking on the “Not now” option on the screen.
During the signup process, when prompted to grant access to your contact list, simply click on the “Not now” option displayed on the screen. By selecting this option, you can decline the request and proceed without sharing your contact list with the Signal app.
This feature ensures that you have control over your personal information and can make an informed decision about the data you choose to share. Signal prioritizes user privacy and allows you to enjoy the benefits of secure messaging without compromising your comfort level.
However, there are some downsides to not sharing your contacts list with Signal. If you share the contact list with Signal, then you can easily know who joined Signal from your friend list. After sharing the contacts list, you can directly start chatting with a person in your contact list.