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Signal private messenger usage - red flag? Update: YES, it is!

12369 Views 185 Replies 37 Participants Last post by  BigDaddyNY
Update on page 2.

I need some input. Just figured out that my husband of 10 years uses the app Signal private messenger. I was able to see the time stamps when he is using that app and this included times such as 2:22AM , during night time and during the day.

It has been downloaded on April 28th and it's in regular use since then. As of right now there is no way I can confront him because he belongs to these people who blame "pop-up ads" for literally everything.

Any experience with this app? Any advice for me?

Thank you.
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I need some input. Just figured out that my husband of 10 years uses the app Signal private messenger. I was able to see the time stamps when he is using that app and this included times such as 2:22AM , during night time and during the day.

It has been downloaded on April 28th and it's in regular use since then. As of right now there is no way I can confront him because he belongs to these people who blame "pop-up ads" for literally everything.

Any experience with this app? Any advice for me?

Thank you.
The app is installed on his phone, yes? Then he can't blame it on pop-up ads. He put it there and is using it to hide who he is talking to.

If that is enough for you to divorce, then you don't need to do anything else. If you are hoping to reconcile or need more before pulling the plug, then investigate rather than confronting. If you confront him right now it will let him know that he needs to hide the evidence, which makes it harder for you to figure out what is going on.
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The app is installed on his phone, yes? Then he can't blame it on pop-up ads. He put it there and is using it to hide who he is talking to.

If that is enough for you to divorce, then you don't need to do anything else. If you are hoping to reconcile or need more before pulling the plug, then investigate rather than confronting. If you confront him right now it will let him know that he needs to hide the evidence, which makes it harder for you to figure out what is going on.
Yes, it's on his android phone.
I don't know how I can further investigate because I have no access to his phone.
Yes, it's on his android phone.
I don't know how I can further investigate because I have no access to his phone.
It looks like that app does messaging and calls. You could try placing a VAR (voice-activated recorder) where you think he may be talking on the phone (car, bedroom, bathroom, mancave, etc). This thread gives more information on that.

Do you know his passcode? Can you get your hands on his phone while he's sleeping or in the shower?

It's pretty much a given that he's cheating on you. It may be physical, so I'd suggest getting an STD test and stopping intimacy.
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I'm not going to speculate re your husband's use of this app, but I will provide some info for you:

My wife and I use Signal for our private messages - sexting etc. All regular communications re groceries etc is via plain old text messages.

No one else is on our Signal app as a rule between us. It's strictly for intimate conversations and pictures between us. Messages are encrypted, so there is no record of conversations on the app side.

The app itself locks with fingerprint verification or password / pattern lock. No one will see our messages accidentally by having access to our phones.

Fyi, one of their recent updates includes a 'story' feature that automatically deletes messages after one day. We don't have any use for that, so we don't use it, but I thought you should know.
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1. Signal has plenty of legitimate uses, and lots of people use it for non-nefarious purposes, including group chats.
That said, it is a potential red flag and concern (especially if he’s on it at 2 AM), but using signal is not necessarily proof of anything inappropriate.

2. Why don’t you have full access to his phone?
You’re married, you should have full access to each other’s devices.

3. I wouldn’t confront him yet, start investigating and see what you can find. And figure out how to get access to his phone.
Lots of people in the IT industry use Signal, some even use it for work communication. I wouldn't say its the app that is the issue. It's the communication around 2 am that is suspicious. That's definitely a red flag.
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I need some input. Just figured out that my husband of 10 years uses the app Signal private messenger. I was able to see the time stamps when he is using that app and this included times such as 2:22AM , during night time and during the day.

It has been downloaded on April 28th and it's in regular use since then. As of right now there is no way I can confront him because he belongs to these people who blame "pop-up ads" for literally everything.

Any experience with this app? Any advice for me?

Thank you.
PICK UP HIS PHONE AND CHECK! If he gets upset. Too. Freaking. Bad.

Boo hoo hoo.

I don't know when this "privacy" BS, which is in reality secrecy, let's be honest, became normalized but it has to stop. If you're in a relationship, it means the other person is invested in it working out, romantically, emotionally, economically and even genetically. So you have EVERY right to pick up his phone and ensure he isn't engaging in shenanigans that directly put that which you are fully invested in in danger.

Just because he's stupid enough to play stupid games it doesn't mean you should.
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How are you able to see the timestamps when he's using the app and how do you know when it was downloaded? You checked his Google Play history? You sure it's not just open on his phone when he's asleep?
Lots of people in the IT industry use Signal, some even use it for work communication. I wouldn't say its the app that is the issue. It's the communication around 2 am that is suspicious. That's definitely a red flag.
Unless he has colleagues in distant time zones?
Unless he has colleagues in distant time zones?
Actually I kind of doubt this is the case, I would assume the OP would be aware if her husband had projects he dealt with overseas that require his attention at late hours. I think OP needs to find out whom he is communicating with, because he probably up to no good.
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BTW OP, I forgot to mention that if YOU download and start the Signal app, for whatever investigative purposes you might be thinking of, be aware that H will be notified in his app that you are "now on Signal". Basically, every Signal user that has you in their in regular contacts list will be notified.

Any updates?
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How are you able to see the timestamps when he's using the app and how do you know when it was downloaded? You checked his Google Play history? You sure it's not just open on his phone when he's asleep?
I am checking his Google account activity (everything is ON) on the desktop. Android will sync his Google activity because he is registered on it with that account. Naw, he isn't sleeping. You can clearly see what else he is doing before and after. This morning, he used the camera and then signal. or maybe that just means he used the camera in the app. I don't know for sure.

Just taking his phone isn't that easy though. He has it always on him and signal literally will delete the messages and he probably put a pin on. I will wait with the confrontation until next week.
Actually I kind of doubt this is the case, I would assume the OP would be aware if her husband had projects he dealt with overseas that require his attention at late hours. I think OP needs to find out whom he is communicating with, because he probably up to no good.
Yea, this is not work related.
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Yes, it's on his android phone.
I don't know how I can further investigate because I have no access to his phone.
Keep quiet about it and keep observing. It won’t JUST be that. Don’t confront him!!!
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I am checking his Google account activity (everything is ON) on the desktop. Android will sync his Google activity because he is registered on it with that account. Naw, he isn't sleeping. You can clearly see what else he is doing before and after. This morning, he used the camera and then signal. or maybe that just means he used the camera in the app. I don't know for sure.

Just taking his phone isn't that easy though. He has it always on him and signal literally will delete the messages and he probably put a pin on. I will wait with the confrontation until next week.
I don’t know, could be nothing but if you have reason to suspect he’s being dishonest about something, I would just ask. There’s no reason to chat privately with coworkers…about business. There really isn’t. There’s no reason to chat with anyone outside of you, privately. Private chats to me, indicate that he’s keeping a secret. To what extent, who knows.
Keep quiet about it and keep observing. It won’t JUST be that. Don’t confront him!!!
Lol I have the opposite advice 😆
Lol I have the opposite advice 😆
Well I’m not saying don’t ever confront him, but she has the upper hand right now with him not knowing she knows..
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Well I’m not saying don’t ever confront him, but she has the upper hand right now with him not knowing she knows..
Right - the time to investigate is now, before she confronts.
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I am checking his Google account activity (everything is ON) on the desktop. Android will sync his Google activity because he is registered on it with that account. Naw, he isn't sleeping. You can clearly see what else he is doing before and after. This morning, he used the camera and then signal. or maybe that just means he used the camera in the app. I don't know for sure.

Just taking his phone isn't that easy though. He has it always on him and signal literally will delete the messages and he probably put a pin on. I will wait with the confrontation until next week.
If location history is enabled in Google Maps it should show where he has been in Your Timeline
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