The Facebook-owned company earlier this week began sending in-app notifications to users about changes to its policy and terms of service, indicating that user data would be shared with its parent company, Facebook. The message suggests the key changes in how WhatsApp will collect and process users' information going forward, and the partnership with Facebook, its parent company, as part of a larger unification drive between the family of apps.
The firm has made it mandatory for the users to accept its policy and terms of service else their accounts will be deleted. The firm has set February 8th as the deadline, which is a month from now.
With rising concerns over users' data privacy, there has been buzz about switching to other apps. From Elon Musk to hacker Elliot Alderson, several tech experts have advised WhatsApp alternatives such as Telegram and Signal.
All About 'Signal' App
Signal is a well-known privacy-focused messaging app, that is available on Android, iOS, and other operating systems. The messaging app is a cross-platform open source, peer reviewed service which offers end-to-end encryption for messages and media shared between users.
The application allows users to send and receive high-fidelity messages, participate in HD voice/video calls and stay connect with help of other new features.
As stated by the firm, its advanced privacy-preserving technology is always enabled so that users can easily share their moments.
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Reasons Why Users Are Switching To 'Signal'
Secured conversation: State-of-the-art end-to-end encryption (powered by the open source Signal Protocol) keeps your conversations secure. Privacy isn’t an optional mode — it’s just the way that Signal works. Every message, every call, every time.
Fast message delivery: Messages are delivered quickly and reliably, even on slow networks. Signal is optimized to operate in the most constrained environment possible.
Free signal: Signal is a completely independent 501c3 nonprofit. Development is supported by users like you. No advertisements, no trackers.
Existing phone number: You can use your existing phone number and address book to securely communicate with your friends.
Editing features: Use the built-in image editing features to sketch, crop, and flip your outgoing photos. There’s even a text tool so that you can add more words to the 1,000 that your picture is already worth.