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Hey there! Big news for Signal users – the private messaging app just introduced a highly-anticipated feature: secure cloud backup. Currently in beta for Android users, Signal plans to extend this feature to more users soon.
Exciting Update: Signal Messaging App Introduces Cloud Backup
In a recent post, Jim O’Leary, VP of Engineering at Signal, announced the launch of cloud backup for chats and media for Signal users.
Signal users have long been asking for a cloud backup option to safeguard their data in case of device loss or theft. With this new feature, users can easily retrieve their lost Signal data using just a recovery key.
According to O’Leary, Signal’s backup process takes place on Signal servers, ensuring end-to-end encryption at all times. This aligns with Signal’s commitment to zero-knowledge practices, prioritizing user privacy.
Additionally, the backup archive is protected by a 64-character recovery key generated on users’ devices. This key, different from Signal PINs, remains private to users and can be stored offline (e.g., in a notebook) or in an online vault like a password manager. It’s crucial to safeguard this key as it’s not shared with Signal servers and cannot be recovered.
Remember, your recovery key is the only way to access your backup. Losing it means losing your backup permanently, with no way for Signal to help recover it.
Currently an optional feature, the app automatically backs up users’ Signal data every 24 hours if enabled. Each daily backup replaces older archives, retaining only the latest chat data version. Deleted messages, including self-destructing ones, will eventually be removed from the backup archive.
The backup feature follows a freemium model, offering free users 100 MiB of message and media storage for the past 45 days. To store media beyond this timeframe, users can opt for the paid plan at $1.99 per month. Signal clarified that this paid subscription is necessary to cover the costs of secure storage for large data volumes.
Cloud Backup Now Available in Signal for Android (Beta)
Signal has initially introduced the cloud backup feature in the beta version for Android users. This temporary hold allows Signal to test the feature for improvements before rolling it out to stable releases, including iOS and Desktop clients.
Furthermore, the app plans to offer users more backup options, allowing them to choose the storage location for their backups while maintaining privacy.
Despite being a long-standing player, Signal lacked a cloud backup feature due to privacy concerns. However, with the app gaining traction post-WhatsApp’s privacy policy changes, more users turned to Signal for secure communication.
Signal has continuously enhanced its security features, including quantum-resistant end-to-end encryption. With the addition of secure cloud chat backups, Signal is set to attract more users who were hesitant due to the lack of this feature.
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