Signal brings end-to-end encrypted backups to app

Signal has launched an opt-in feature that allows users to create end-to-end encrypted backups of their chats, offering a way to restore conversations if a device is lost or damaged, BleepingComputer reports.

Currently available in beta for Android, the feature will expand to iOS and desktop versions after testing. According to Jim O'Leary, Signal's VP of Engineering, the service provides free backups of text messages and 45 days of media, while a new subscription tier at $1.99 per month increases storage to 100 GB.

O'Leary noted, "This is the first time we’ve offered a paid feature... storing and transferring large amounts of data is expensive."

The free plan offers 100 MiB of media storage, and users must safeguard a 64-character recovery key that Signal cannot restore if lost. The rollout builds on Signal's recent privacy-focused updates, including encrypted message syncing, default screen protection on Windows 11, and options for usernames that conceal phone numbers.