Snowden-approved encrypted chat app lands on Android with incredibly bad timing

AN APPLICATION called TextSecure, which was available on iOS and apparently had some sort of appeal for Edward Snowden, has made its way onto Android at a time when Google is about to be told that such stuff is a no-no under a reignited Snoopers’ Charter.

This is more than a name change, however. The firm behind it, Open Whisper Systems, said in a blog post that it has combined the existing TextSecure and RedPhone systems into one thing called Signal. TextSecure users should enjoy an easy transition through a software update.