Mobile messaging app Signal made a statement after reports that the service had been hacked and denied these allegations. The encrypted instant messaging application, which has been gaining popularity recently because it offers to securely communicate with friends and family, has openly announced that it has not been affected by any attack.
“We have experienced a surge in usage in Eastern Europe and rumors are circulating that Signal has been hacked and compromised,” the company said in a tweet. The statement continued: “This is not true. Signal has not been hacked. We believe these rumors are part of a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at encouraging people to use less secure alternatives.”
In a separate tweet, he said, “We see these rumors appearing in messages transmitted in several different apps. These rumors are often attributed to official government sources and say there are ‘attacks on the Signal platform’. This is not true and Signal is not under attack.”
These allegations come at a time when conflict-related misinformation and untruths are shared on social media and online, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues. Several major cyberattacks are thought to have crashed Ukrainian and Russian government websites, as well as banking and media services on both sides.
Signal’s user numbers have grown in recent months as customers seek a more secure way to text and stay in touch. Signal is available on Windows, macOS, Linux (Debian-based distributions), iOS and Android.
The app says it keeps messages safe using end-to-end encryption with its own Signal Protocol. In other words, no one can see the messages except the sender and the intended recipient.
Additionally, Signal allows users to choose how long messages and conversations can be used, allowing you to create self-destruct messages that become completely inaccessible after a period of time you choose.
Encryption keys are stored on users’ phones and computers, not servers, and an alert is announced whenever someone you’re talking to changes their security key to avoid potential fraud risk.
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