Signal Secure Backups (signal.org)

Article summary

Signal is introducing a secure backup feature that allows users to save an archive of their conversations in a privacy-preserving form, refreshed daily. The feature is opt-in and end-to-end encrypted, and users can choose to back up their text messages and media for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid plan for additional storage. The feature is currently available in the latest beta release for Android and will be rolled out to iOS and Desktop in the near future. The secure backups will allow users to restore their chats even if they lose access to their phone.

Main themes

• Secure Backups
• End-to-End Encryption
• Privacy Preservation
• Data Storage
• Cross-Platform Compatibility
• Paid Subscription Model

What commenters say

• Some users question the need for backups, as they already use other methods to save important conversations, such as email or notes.
• The 30-day device unlinking policy is seen as a limitation, and some users suggest that Signal should allow for longer timeouts or give users control over expiration.
• The introduction of paid backups raises concerns about the cost of storage and the potential for Signal to collect and sell user data, despite the company's claims to the contrary.
• Some users express frustration with the lack of features on iOS, such as the ability to save backups to the Files app, and accuse Signal of being lazy in implementing these features.
• There are differing opinions on the effectiveness of Apple's Advanced Data Protection and its availability in different countries, with some users praising Apple's efforts to fight government requests for data access.
• The use of third-party tools to merge message histories is seen as a potential solution for users who want to combine their conversations from different devices, but this approach is not officially supported by Signal.
• Some users suggest that Signal should prioritize the development of a multi-device feature, which would allow users to access their message history across different devices without the need for backups.
• The importance of testing backups is emphasized, as users may not realize that their backups are faulty until they need to restore their data.