Here's how to get the most out of encrypted messaging app Signal

Signal 's popularity often spikes in times of strife or when alternatives seem more precarious.

Signal is not the only messaging app to offer end-to-end encryption.

Because it has privacy features other messaging apps lack, WIRED has long encouraged readers to adopt Signal .

Signal has added a few new features since we first ran this story.

Google will ask you to verify it by providing your actual phone number, where it’ll send a code that will let you complete your registration.

If you don't place a call or receive a single text to your Google Voice number every six months , Google will reclaim that number within 45 days .

You should feel comfortable letting Signal access your device’s contacts; it stores that information on your phone, not in the cloud.

Signal now allows you to enable disappearing messages on all new chats by default.

You can also make end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls from the app as well.

Signal also now allows group video calls and sends photos and videos to your camera roll.