Signal downloads double following US military plans leak scandal

The messaging app Signal saw a significant surge in downloads following the scandal involving the leak of confidential US military plans.

The widespread media coverage of the leaked plans prompted many people to try out the Signal app for the first time, leading to a notable increase in downloads, Caliber.Az reports via the website covering technology news.

Typically, Signal receives around 95,000 downloads per day, based on data from the analytics service Appfigures. However, just two days after the initial news broke about the scandal, the app experienced a record-breaking 195,000 downloads on March 26, marking a dramatic increase. In addition, following The Atlantic's article on Signal, the app saw a global download spike of 26 per cent, with a 45 per cent rise in the US and a 42 per cent increase in Yemen.

Signal is a free, open-source messaging app known for its strong emphasis on privacy and security. Launched in 2010 by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, Signal offers end-to-end encryption for text messages, voice and video calls, and media sharing, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read or view the content. The app is widely used by individuals, journalists, activists, and privacy advocates seeking secure communication.

By Naila Huseynova