====== Install Signal without a smartphone ======

Imagine you do not want to have a smartphone for some reasons, but still need to have a little bit of privacy. 
Signal is considered one of the most secure and private app for messaging, using a very advanced end to end encryption technology, and being open source and developed by a Foundation caring for our privacy and not an evil corporation. Besides, it is super user friendly and easy to use. However, most people consider that it requires the use of a smartphone.
Well, good news: this is not True ! there is a way to use a desktop version of Signal on a computer (MacOs, Windows or Linux). You just need to be able to receive a One Time Password by SMS.
This can be done on a regular "brick" phone, a burner or a Virtual Phone.

I followed the recipe described [[https://gist.github.com/szepeviktor/2c6a19cb91c4bb561369707f22bcf413|here]].

You first need to install three things on your computer: 
  - The [[https://signal.org/download/|desktop version of Signal]] corresponding to your OS: 
  - [[https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp|java]]
  - The signal-cli [[https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/releases|command line program]]

For this last one you should download the signal-cli-*.tar.gz archive.

==== [Optional check for advanced users that already installed GPG] ====
 you can verify the download in the following way:
  - download the signature signal-cli-*.tar.gz.asc
  - Download the public PGP key: <code>gpg --recv-key FA10826A74907F9EC6BBB7FC2BA2CD21B5B09570</code>
  - Verify it: <code>gpg --verify [filename.asc] [filename]</code>
  - Check the "Good Signature" appearing

==== Procedure to register ====

  *  Remove all VPNs if you have any active, and possibly deactivate anti tracking addons on your browser temporarily
  * go to [[https://signalcaptchas.org/registration/generate|this website]], and solve the captcha. If proposed to automatically open a link with signal, refuse it, then right-click and copy the link associated with the new "Open Signal" text on the page

{{::captcha_generation.png?400|}} 

{{::captcha_generation_2.png?400|}}

  * Open a terminal, and go to the repository where you uploaded signal cli, using the <code>cd</code> command, then enter the bin repository
  * Enter the command <code>./signal-cli -u [PHONE NUMBER STARTING BY +] register --captcha [PASTE THE COPIED LINK HERE]</code>
  * If everything goes well, you should see no error, and then receive a SMS with a One Time Password on your phone.
  * Enter then <code>./signal-cli -u [PHONE NUMBER STARTING BY +] verify [RECEIVED ONE TIME PASSWORD]</code>
==== Procedure to link your new account to signal-desktop ====
  * You can now open the signal-desktop client with <code>signal-desktop</code>. Note that if you already are using signal and want to create a new separate signal account, create a repository on your computer and enter:<code>signal-desktop --user-data-dir=[PATH_TO_YOUR_REPOSITORY]</code>
  * You should see a QR Code appearing. Take a screenshot of it and save it as a picture for example.
  * download [[https://schmich.github.io/qr-code-offline-tools/qr.html|this file]] and open it
  * Click on open file, browse to the QR code.
{{:qr-code-1.png?400|}}
{{:qr-code-2.png?400|}}
  * You should see a link starting by sgnl appearing. Copy it.
  * Go back to your terminal and enter <code>./signal-cli -u [PHONE NUMBER STARTING BY +] addDevice --uri "tsdevice:/[PASTE THE COPIED LINK HERE]"</code>
  * Then everything should work. If Signal hangs at "syncing contacts" you can turn it off then on.

==== Final Signal configuration ====
  * Final setup: go to preferences 
{{:signal_setup_1.png?400|}}
{{:signal_setup_2.png?400|}}
  * click on your name and set up a name and a username. Note down your username: this is what you are going to give to people so they can contact you.
{{:signal_setup_3.png?400|}}
{{:signal_setup_4.png?400|}}
  * Go to Privacy/Phone Number (Change) and set both option to "Nobody"
{{:signal_setup_5.png?400|}}
{{:signal_setup_6.png?400|}}
{{:signal_setup_7.png?400|}}
  * You can now use Signal !