README

Molly







Molly is a hardened version of Signal for Android, the fast simple yet secure messaging app by Signal Foundation.

 Introduction

Back in 2018, Signal allowed the user to set a passphrase to secure the local message database. But this option was removed with the introduction of file-based encryption on Android. Molly brings it back again with additional security features.

Molly connects to Signal's servers, so you can chat with your Signal contacts seamlessly. Before signing up, please remember to review the Signal Terms & Privacy Policy.

We update Molly every two weeks to include the latest Signal features and fixes. The exceptions are security patches, which are applied as soon as they are available.

 Download

You can download the app from GitHub's Releases page or install it from the Molly F-Droid Repo:



There are two versions available: Molly or Molly-FOSS. Learn the differences below and download the right one for you.

You can also get Molly-FOSS from Accrescent:


   


To verify the APK, use the following signing certificate fingerprints:

SHA-256: 6aa80fdf4a8cc13737cfb434fc0cde486f09cf8fcda21a67bea5ee1ca2700886
SHA-1: 49ce310cdd0c09c8c34eb31a8005c6bf13f5a4f1


 Features

Molly has unique features compared to Signal:

- Data encryption at rest - Protect your app database with passphrase encryption
- Secure RAM wiper - Securely shred sensitive data from device memory
- Automatic lock - Lock the app automatically under user-defined conditions
- Multi-device support - Link multiple devices to a single Signal account, including Android tablets
- UnifiedPush - Receive push notifications without Google through the UnifiedPush protocol
- Block unknown contacts - Block messages and calls from unknown senders for security and anti-spam
- Disappearing call history - Clear call logs together with expiring messages
- Custom backup scheduling - Set daily or weekly interval and the number of backups to retain
- SOCKS proxy and Tor support - Tunnel app network traffic via proxy and Orbot
- Debug logs are optional - Android logging can be disabled

Additionally, you will find all the features of Signal, along with some minor tweaks and improvements.

 Free and Open-Source

Molly is open-source just like Signal. But Signal depends on proprietary Google software for some features.

To support a 100% free and auditable app, Molly comes in two versions: one with proprietary blobs like Signal, and one without. They are called Molly and Molly-FOSS, respectively. You can install the flavor of your choice at any time, and it will replace any previously installed version. The data and settings will be preserved so that you do not have to re-register.

 Feature Comparison

Here's how some key features work in different versions of the app:

| Feature                           | Molly-FOSS       | Molly                | Signal               |
| --------------------------------- | ---------------- | -------------------- | -------------------- |
| 

Top issues

Latest release

Fixed a DNS leak when SOCKS5 proxy is configured in v8.19.2-3 (https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/issues/799).

For the complete list of changes, see the CHANGELOG.