I'm an amateur, but will signal even do anything if you're running it on a closed source os run by a us based company? Like once trump takes power isn't it best assumed that any such os streams your screen to the police?
I got my friends and fam on. It's private (mostly), free, run by a privacy foundation non-profit, doesn't track you. Replaces Whatsapp. Good for video sharing and chat groups too.
From Signal you can still talk to people without a Signal account, there is just no privacy.
My issue with Signal is that I don't get notifications with people message me. I've tried fixing the issue but it just doesn't work for some unclear reason.
I went to verify your claim and the desktop app for Signal requires me to link it to a mobile device. Signal isn't in F-Droid. I just have more and more reasons not to use Signal.
Signal is good, but there are obviously better decentralized alternatives. If you are going to choose Signal, I recommend using the fork version called Molly. It is FOSS and can be installed from F-Droid or self compiled. It adds extra security features like local encryption and a proxy through Tor.
Comments
a) Rigidly associated with your phone number
b) Impossible to run for the same user on more than one Android device at a time
c) Isn't principally better than WhatsApp on security tech, just on not being owned by Meta
THREEMO
SESSION
Using all three, you can separate relationships from personal stuff from work stuff.
From Signal you can still talk to people without a Signal account, there is just no privacy.
Also:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/datasafety?id=org.thoughtcrime.securesms
"Data collected
Data this app may collect
Personal info
Phone number"