Signal messaging platform stops working as downloads surge

Messaging platform Signal said on Friday it had been experiencing “technical difficulties” because it worked to accommodate tens of thousands of new users.

Some users reported messages neglecting to ship on both mobile and desktop programs for many hours.

The business has witnessed a massive uptick in interest because its rival WhatsApp unveiled new privacy provisions a week.

On Twitter, Signal stated it had added servers”in a record speed” and has been working to reestablish service.

Signal is experiencing technical difficulties. We are working hard to restore service as quickly as possible.

— Signal (@signalapp) January 15, 2021

We have been adding new servers and extra capacity at a record pace every single day this week nonstop, but today exceeded even our most optimistic projections. Millions upon millions of new users are sending a message that privacy matters. We appreciate your patience.

— Signal (@signalapp) January 15, 2021

We are making progress towards getting the service back online. Privacy is our top priority, but adding capacity is a close second right now.

— Signal (@signalapp) January 15, 2021

We are still working as quickly as possible to bring additional capacity online to handle peak traffic levels.

— Signal (@signalapp) January 16, 2021

“Countless millions of new users are sending a message that privacy issues,” it stated in a tweet.

Both Signal and Telegram, yet another free-to-use encoded messaging app, have profited from discontent triggered by WhatsApp’s upgraded terms and conditions.

WhatsApp advised both billion users they need to allow it to share information with its parent firm Facebook if they desired to keep on using it.

This doesn’t apply to users in the united kingdom and Europe – however, the notification was delivered to everybody.

Must Read: WhatsApp to replace Archived chats with “Read Later”

WhatsApp and Facebook to discuss information out Europe
WhatsApp stressed the own practice of sharing information with Facebook wasn’t brand new, and wasn’t being enlarged. It said there was”confusion” regarding its message, which originally gave individuals until 8 February to take its upgraded provisions or stop using the service.

WhatsApp has changed the cut-off date to 15 May, saying it might use the time to clean up misinformation.

“We can not see your personal messages or listen to your requirements, and can Facebook,” WhatsApp stated in a previous FAQ blog article .

Based on data from analytics company Sensor Tower, Signal was downloaded 246,000 times globally in the week until WhatsApp declared the shift on 4 January, and 8.8 million times per week after.

Back in India, downloads moved from 12,000 to 2.7 million. In the united kingdom, they jumped from 7,400 to 191,000, and at the US from 63,000 to 1.1 million.

On Wednesday, Telegram stated that it had surpassed 500 million active users worldwide. Downloads jumped from 6.5 million per week beginning 28 December, to 11 million throughout the following week.

During precisely the exact same interval, WhatsApp’s worldwide downloads dropped from 11.3 million to 9.2 million.

What exactly does WhatsApp share with Facebook?
WhatsApp has stated the information it shares from users outside the EU and UK doesn’t contain messages, classes or telephone logs.

But it will include:

• Telephone number and other info provided on enrollment (like title )
• information about the user’s telephone, such as make, model, and cellular business
• internet protocol (IP) addresses, that signify that the place of a user’s online connections
• any payments and financial transactions created over WhatsApp