Rumors about the app being hacked are false - Signal

Updated on 2 March.

The company said the false information is likely a part of a misinformation campaign.

The encrypted messaging platform received an influx of Eastern European users over the recent days. Claims the app was unsafe started surfacing Monday.

However, according to the official Signal account on Twitter, the rumors are likely meant to divert users from Signal to other apps.

“Signal is not hacked. We believe these rumors are part of a coordinated misinformation campaign meant to encourage people to use less secure alternatives,” the Tweet said.

Signal claims that rumors are circulating on several different apps and are attributed to official government sources. The company denies it was under attack.

Signal is considered among the safest communication apps in terms of privacy. Encryption is only one feature of the app, as Signal collects very little metadata.

Signal is run by the Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC.

The app was developed and launched by Moxie Marlinspike, an American cryptographer, in 2014. Four years later, in 2018 Brian Acton joined Signal to help launch the Signal foundation.

Marlinspike resigned as the CEO in early January this year.

“It’s a new year, and I’ve decided it’s a good time to replace myself as the CEO of Signal,” Marlinspike said.

He will stay on the Signal board and transition out as CEO over the next month to focus on the candidate search.