Signal-Desktop is a cross-platform messaging application that provides end-to-end encrypted communication. It implements the Signal Protocol to secure messages and voice calls, ensuring that only intended recipients can access content. The application manages asynchronous key exchange and session initialization to maintain secure communication channels between parties who are not online simultaneously.
The project distinguishes itself through advanced cryptographic protections, including hybrid post-quantum security that combines classical elliptic curve cryptography with lattice-based algorithms to defend against future decryption threats. It further protects user privacy by obfuscating message headers with rotating keys, which prevents traffic analysis and the correlation of conversation participants. To ensure reliability over constrained networks, the application utilizes erasure-coded data transmission to reconstruct messages despite potential packet loss.
The software provides comprehensive data management and synchronization capabilities, allowing users to link desktop clients to mobile accounts for consistent conversation history. It secures local data through encrypted message archives and provides automated lifecycle management to handle message retention. The application also includes robust identity verification mechanisms, enabling users to authenticate correspondents via public key fingerprint comparison to prevent impersonation.
