Signal Rolls Out Secure Backups to iOS

Signal, the privacy-focused messaging app, has rolled out its secure backup feature to iOS users, allowing them to preserve and restore messages and media in the event of device loss or failure. The update, which debuted on Android devices in September, addresses a long-standing limitation by enabling end-to-end encrypted cloud storage without compromising user security.

Previously, Signal users risked losing their entire chat history if their phone was lost, stolen, or irreparably damaged, as the app prioritized privacy by not integrating with standard cloud services. Now, with the iOS rollout, users can opt in to daily automated backups of text messages, photos, videos, GIFs, files, and other media. The feature requires a 64-character recovery key generated solely on the user's device, ensuring that only the owner can access the data. Signal emphasizes the key's importance, stating that without it, "no one, including Signal, can read, decrypt, or restore any of the data."

The free tier provides 100 megabytes of storage for text messages and retains media from the past 45 days before automatic deletion. For users needing more capacity, a premium subscription costs $1.99 per...