If you’ve ever sent a message to a friend via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Skype, then you may have experienced the Signal protocol. But, what exactly is Signal and how is it keeping you safe? Put simply, the protocol is a piece of software that provides end-to-end encryption for conservations: text, voice, and video. This means that while your message or video stream is hurling through the web to its destination, it’s securely protected against prying eyes.
When it comes down to your personal life, the addition of encryption is equal to added privacy and protection. Signal isn’t the only option on the market either – your PC or Mac most likely uses a level of encryption to protect your data behind a secure login password. When an application encrypts something, it translates into a secure format that can only be read by the recipient who has the key. If you’ve ever played with a spy decoder ring as a child, think of encryption as similar but with a grown-up twist where the information is a bit more precious and a lot more digital.
Read More: Should You Get a VPN App for Your Android?
The team at Signal doesn’t just help keep third-party apps safe such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, they also have their own app, Signal, that allows two parties to communicate securely with each other. But, how else can we use encryption to protect ourselves when surfing the web? Securing our messages is an excellent way to start, but we can take everything just a step further.
For maximum privacy and security, we can protect all of our online activities using similar end-to-end encryption. If you’ve ever used public Wi-Fi or shared a network with someone else, you will understand the desire to keep away others from peeping at your data. In these scenarios, this is where the powers of VPNs can come into play.
A VPN, virtual private network, allows you to browse the web on any of your devices without the worry of any information being intercepted. For example, accessing your online banking information at a local cafe could be a risky decision, but with a VPN you can know your traffic is encrypted from your computer all the way to the bank.
You might be thinking this sounds great, but how do I get started? For beginners, you can download an application for your smartphone when browsing for added privacy protection. A solution such as dfndr vpn allows you to connect to a secure VPN with a single touch, encrypt your sensitive data, and also help you block malicious sites.
Ensuring that your data remains encrypted and secure is an essential part of your digital life. Always consider what you’re sending online, and how you’re sending it in public spaces. A VPN can solve that worry.
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