WhatsApp-rival Signal becomes operational again after a day-long outage

The company's Twitter and status dashboard indicates that the app is working normally and users can continue with their private and secure communication.

Signal app logo. (Signal/Twitter)

Until yesterday, the instant messaging app signal (and WhatsApp rival), Signal, was facing a global outage wherein people across the world were not able to send messages on the app. The company also tweeted this issue and mentioned that it is going through ‘technical difficulties.' However, Signal's cross platform messaging service is operational again. The company's Twitter and status dashboard indicates that the app is working normally and users can continue with their private and secure communication. 

Signal is back! Like an underdog going through a training montage, we've learned a lot since yesterday — and we did it together. Thanks to the millions of new Signal users around the world for your patience. Your capacity for understanding inspired us while we expanded capacity. pic.twitter.com/cRNV8kVtdF

— Signal (@signalapp) January 17, 2021

In the tweet signal has mentioned “Signal is back! Like an underdog going through a training montage, we've learned a lot since yesterday — and we did it together. Thanks to the millions of new Signal users around the world for your patience. Your capacity for understanding inspired us while we expanded capacity.”

Many people speculated that the ‘technical difficulty' which was being faced by Signal could have been due to the huge number of users that the WhatsApp rival has gained almost overnight.

Post January 6, Signal and Telegram has seen an unprecedented number of downloads with many WhatsApp users looking for more private options for messaging apps. 

Aruna Harder, Chief Operating Officer, Signal Messenger said, "We have been adding new servers and extra capacity at a record pace every single day this week, but today exceeded even our most optimistic projections. Millions upon millions of new users are sending a message that privacy matters, and we are working hard to restore service for them as quickly as possible."

Compared to the other two, Telegram and WhatsApp, Signal collects no data from its users and has also promised that it is never going to share user data or show in-app ads.