Signal is considered by many to be the most secure messaging application for mobiles (and also computers) out there. The reason is that uses the TextSecure protocol, created by its founders five years before Signal was even born as such. A protocol that has been implemented, for example, by WhatsApp, which until now led the market.
Since its usage is starting to expand but not as extensive as other similar apps, it is good to explain some of its features in detail. Like for example, explain How can we activate in Signal that the messages we send disappear after a certain time, something that in Signal can be done without the need for specific chats, such as the secret chats that work on Telegram.
How to make Signal automatically delete read messages
As we mentioned, this disappearing messages feature is also present in apps like Telegram except that in Telegram you need to create a secret conversation with a user so that the feature can be activated. In the case of Signal, we can apply self destruct messages to any chat, regardless of the type of cat.
The operation of this option is in any case similar to that of the other applications. Once we have configured the time we want messages to stay in the chat, every message sent and read (this is important) will be deleted after the set time has elapsed. The messages will remain waiting for the other user to read them so that the time countdown we have set begins. The way to do this is simple:
- We open a chat
- At the top of the chat window, click the three vertical points to open the extended options.
- We choose the first option: “Disappearance of messages “.
- Once inside, we select the validity period of the messages once they have been read and press “Accept”.
- We will notice that the messages affected by this time limitation they show a small clock just below, which starts as soon as they are read.
- After the time limit has elapsed, messages sent with this time restriction they will disappear without leaving a trace.
- If we want to turn off self-destruct, we just have to go back to the same section and change the time we chose for “Inactive”
This countdown will affect everything sent from the moment we activate self-destruct time. This means that not only the SMS will disappear but also emojis, photos, videos or attachments. Anything sent from the moment we activate self-destruct until we deactivate it, will go away without a solution, and will disappear for both parties, not just us.
As we can see, Signal offers message self-destruction as an extended option that we can use in any open chat, without needing to open side chats. This allows us to personalize each conversation to our liking, to decide which messages will stay written and which messages will disappear. And why would we want to do this? Maybe a user needs us to send them a password at some point or a delicate file. By activating the self-destruction, there will be no trace of this shipment and we will be protected.