Is Signal App Safe for Private Chats, Calls, and Group Planning?

If you want to hear a short answer – yes. Signal is one of the strongest private messengers available today. It uses the open-source signal protocol with true end-to-end encryption so only the sender and receiver can read Signal messages, voice messages, and video calls. This is supported by security checkups and years of experience by professionals and the project operates as an independent nonprofit funded by donations, but not financed by advertisements or selling of data.

But nothing on a phone is magic. Your device can still leak even in case your device is infected by spyware, you miss even basic features such as enable registration lock or even when you have already shared your number too widely. We will describe what Signal protects, when it cannot help and how to harden your setup. We will also show how VeePN can provide a network shield around Signal.

Oliver Bennett

Sep 29, 2025

8 min read

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How Signal keeps messages private

Signal’s core is the Signal protocol. Each chat continuously rotates keys so even if one key is exposed, future messages stay safe. That is why many messaging services adopted the same cryptography for their own encrypted modes. WhatsApp and Meta’s Messenger confirm they use the Signal protocol for their end-to-end features, and independent audits have praised the protocol itself. This is why it’s widely regarded by cybersecurity experts as the gold standard for encrypted messaging app tech.

In addition to content encryption, Signal also added the so-called sealed sender, which conceals the sender of a message to Signal servers as much as possible. It minimizes metadata about your communications, not just the content and it is created to restrain what an attacker might gain in case a server was coerced.

Now let’s talk about the app’s default privacy stance.

What Signal app collects, and what it does not

Chat logs, group titles and contact graphs are not stored on servers belonging to Signal. Previously, when US authorities subpoenaed Signal, the provider explained that it could only generate a registration date and the last time an account was connected but not the content of messages. That is because the service avoids storing the things that would harm you if leaked.

Signal also added new defenses where platforms got risky. On Windows 11, Signal now blocks Recall-style screenshot capture by default so your desktop does not silently snapshot chat windows into cloud storage or local indexes.

Strong defaults help, but there are still ways to shoot yourself in the foot if you leave features off.

The must-use toggles inside a secure messaging app

Below are the switches most people miss. Each one closes a real gap:

Turn on registration lock and a strong Signal PIN

This adds a second factor for your signal accounts so no one can re-register your number on a different device and start sending messages as you. Write the PIN in a password manager. If you forget it, you can be locked out for up to a week, which is annoying, but it stops hostile takeovers cold. This is how you keep data private if your SIM is hijacked or recycled.

Verify the safety number with close contacts

Every 1-to-1 chat has a unique safety number. Read it personally or make a comparison through another channel before exchanging sensitive information. In case this number is not the same, stop and re-check. This habit will stop a mis-keyed contact, invitations to the wrong person and will allow it to detect device changes that you had not anticipated.support.signal.org

Use disappearing messages for sensitive threads

Local residue is decreased by disappearing timers. Note, that this does not disable screenshots or malware but it decreases the probability of old Signal messages remaining on a lost device. Set a disappearing-message timer, turn on screen lock, and make sure local backups are disabled.

Enable screen security and incognito keyboard on Android

Screen security removes the ability to take screenshots on your personal devices and the Signal incognito keyboard requests keyboards not to learn your text. It is a best-effort flag, thus continuing to choose an efficient keyboard and make it lean.

So far we focused on personal digital hygiene. What if your work is high-stakes?

National-security context: when phones are the wrong place

Even the most secure messaging app cannot protect you if the device itself is infected. Commercial spyware like Pegasus can read content before or after encryption on compromised phones. Investigations and technical reports show that once a handset is owned, E2EE does not save you.

For government officials, federal officials, journalists, or anyone near sensitive military operations or classified information, follow your organization’s rules and use approved gear inside secure facilities. Personal apps like Signal are not authorized for classified work.

You will also see stories about officials or campaigns using Signal during the Trump administration and beyond, often triggering public-records debates. These cases remind us that tools do not change the law. If your work must be archived, treat Signal as off-limits for that channel.

With that caution in place, here is how Signal compares to everyday messaging apps you probably use.

Signal vs other messaging apps you use every day

Let’s see how they compare:

WhatsApp and Messenger

Both use the Signal Protocol for their end-to-end modes, which is excellent. But Meta’s products collect more metadata, and Messenger’s E2EE is not the default in all views. Signal defaults to E2EE for all chats and keeps less on the server by design.

Telegram’s regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted. You must start a special Secret Chat to get that protection, and group chats are cloud-based by default. Signal encrypts everything end-to-end by default, including Signal group chat and group chat features.

SMS and iMessage mixing

Signal removed SMS fallback to avoid confusing security states. That was the right call. Keep your communications in the same messaging platform so you do not assume messages are end-to-end encrypted when they are not.

Now, let’s harden your own setup with a short checklist.

Hands-on setup: making Signal safer in five minutes

Lock accounts with Registration Lock

Settings → Account → registration lock. Choose a long PIN. Set a calendar reminder to change your PIN on a monthly basis. This prevents SIM swap attacks and number recycling attacks.

Verify safety numbers for VIP contacts

Open a 1-to-1 chat → tap the name → verify safety number. Do it in person or via a second channel. It prevents silent key changes and keeps access tight.

Set disappearing defaults

Set a default timer for new chats. You may make exceptions where it pertains to the logistics or family threads and history assists. It reduces the radius of the blast in case a phone is hijacked.

Hide your phone number with usernames

Signal also has an option of masking your number with a username so that strangers do not scrape it. Check Settings → Privacy → Phone number. Use your number, not username.

Limit linked devices

Review linked desktops and laptops monthly. Remove anything you do not recognize. If hackers ever trick you into linking a rogue machine, this catches it early.

Now, let’s see how using a VPN can improve the safety of your Signal using, and beyond.

Why pair Signal with a VPN like VeePN

A VPN does not replace Signal’s end to end encryption, but it covers gaps Signal cannot reach. Here is how VeePN helps in practice:

Mask IP address and location trails

Signal’s Sealed Sender reduces what servers see, but the Internet still sees an IP. VeePN replaces it with a shared VPN IP, which makes traffic harder to link to your home, office, or travel route. This helps when you text from hotels, airports, or coffee shops where networks are noisy and monitored.

Block phishing and malware domains

NetGuard filters many look-alike sites that try to steal SMS codes or trick you into linking a rogue desktop. Cutting these pages at the network layer removes a big social-engineering risk for signal accounts. It is especially helpful on mobile where small screens hide warning signs. Fewer traps on the path mean fewer bad clicks during a busy day.

Lock down every network you touch

VeePN uses AES-256 with a Kill Switch so traffic does not leak if Wi-Fi drops or a router misbehaves. That keeps data private while you use disappearing messages or the incognito keyboard without worrying about the transport layer. It also reduces the chance that a hotspot logs your session metadata. You get a clean, encrypted path even on sketchy public Wi-Fi.

Stop silent leaks at the edges

DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leak protection ensure that real IP hints are not contained in web calls and in-app previews. This is important as a connection within a chat opens a page that attempts to fingerprint you. VeePN blocks such avenues, so that even minor technical spills will not reverse the efforts of privacy. Connection remains similar even between apps and not only Signal.

Add another VPN layer with Double VPN

In the case of more risky roles, multi-hop routing will introduce a second encrypted leg. It adds more efforts to trace the traffic back to you, which is beneficial on sensitive trips or tense events. You may save this off day to day and turn it on when the conditions are different.

Keep logs out of the story

Strict No Logs policy means that VeePN does not save any browsing and messaging metadata. Our VPN provider has nothing to hand over when somebody requests users’ browsing history. Combine that with a paucity of server data on Signal and you cut both ends. It is an easy method of reducing your total risk.

Get warned when credentials leak

Breach Alert scans the email you trust on services that you rely on. In case anything appears, you have a prompting message to spin passwords before attackers attempt credential stuffing. It has no connection to Signal, but it secures the accounts which are surrounding your messaging life. Quicker responses imply minimal harm.

Protect your whole stack, not just one phone

One plan covers up to 10 gadgets. You can choose stable routes to make your calls smooth with 2,500+ servers in 89 countries. When one place becomes overcrowded, find another in a few seconds and continue.

Try using VeePN without risks, as we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

FAQ

Yes. It is built by a nonprofit organization and powered by the open source signal protocol. Turn on enable registration lock, check each safety number, and use disappearing messages for sensitive chats. Discover more in this article.

Signal does not change your number to usernames unless you change to usernames which can tell more than you want. In case the device is compromised, the attackers will be able to view messages at the terminus. You can also be locked out temporarily by forgetting the registration lock PIN. Discover more in this article.

The encryption is tough to break. Hackers target individuals and devices, such as phishing of connected desktops or malware on the computer. Reduce the attack surface using verify steps, registration lock and a VPN like VeePN. Discover more in this article.

No tool is perfect. Signal offers the end-to-end encryption , however, the IPs and usage patterns could still tell about the behavior, and screenshots are also not impossible. Good settings, clean platform practices and a VPN like VEePN increase your base. Discover more in this article.

Signal historically kept your chat history on the device only. That meant no server-side cloud backup for chats by default, which many experts consider safer. In 2025, Signal began testing an optional encrypted backup feature that stores data with keys you control. If you turn it on when it rolls out to you, read the notes carefully and store your recovery secret offline. If you prefer the strict model, keep cloud backup off and use local encrypted exports as needed.

For most people, yes, Signal is a top choice for a secure messaging app. The protocol is open, audited, and used at internet scale, and the app avoids collecting what it does not need. Still, real-world safety depends on your habits. Use the features above, keep your phone patched, and protect the network path so your Internet service provider or hostile Wi-Fi cannot log where you connect.

Written by Oliver Bennett Oliver Bennett is a dedicated cyber security content writer with a knack for breaking down intricate cyber topics into accessible and actionable insights.