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  3. Signal is not the place for top secret communications, but it might be the right choice for you – a cybersecurity expert on what to look for in a secure messaging app

Signal is not the place for top secret communications, but it might be the right choice for you – a cybersecurity expert on what to look for in a secure messaging app

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  • E [email protected]

    Signal is the place for top secret communications, but not for government business (at least not when using a public instance - they could fork the project to keep decryptable records on gov servers where the official gov instance would run).

    S This user is from outside of this forum
    S This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #31

    Out of curiosity, what’s a better app for that use?

    E 1 Reply Last reply
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    • florencia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneF [email protected]
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      T This user is from outside of this forum
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      [email protected]
      wrote on last edited by
      #32

      Here are two reasons you might not want to use Signal: Your contacts, your settings, your entire Signal experience is tied to a Signal account managed by Signal. Metadata—who you’re talking to, when, and how often—can still be collected and analyzed. Question everything.

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      • S [email protected]

        Out of curiosity, what’s a better app for that use?

        E This user is from outside of this forum
        E This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote on last edited by
        #33

        Anything that logs all the communication.

        Govs have their own apps, email servers, various other web-based tools to exchange data, etc. Usually also gov hardware (ie can't use/access such gov apps on non-gov phones).

        It's not "what's better" it's what is mandated/required/the law.

        Much like when you get a regular average job you have to use whatever is permitted - company email is the usual, can't just deal with company data over your private email account where the company has no oversight.

        S 1 Reply Last reply
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        • U [email protected]

          EVERYONE SHOULD DOWNLOAD SIGNAL for PHONE-NUMBER-based communication, tho. Proper RCS is not here yet (and won't be in a long while), so let's try to mobilize people to Signal.

          DeltaChat is cooler for non-phone based communications, IMO, and decentralization makes it way sexier and worth this tradeoff.

          breadguy@kbin.earthB This user is from outside of this forum
          breadguy@kbin.earthB This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote on last edited by
          #34

          xmpp is like if deltachat was good

          U 1 Reply Last reply
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          • W [email protected]

            Signal is great, that's why I'm suspicious that this recent story is to not only target journalism, but also secure app communication. I wouldn't be surprised if it's used as an excuse to remove signal from the app stores.

            Hopefully I'm just being too paranoid.

            breadguy@kbin.earthB This user is from outside of this forum
            breadguy@kbin.earthB This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by
            #35

            insanely paranoid if you think this will get it removed from app stores good grief

            W 1 Reply Last reply
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            • breadguy@kbin.earthB [email protected]

              insanely paranoid if you think this will get it removed from app stores good grief

              W This user is from outside of this forum
              W This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote on last edited by
              #36

              Talk to Tiktok

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • T [email protected]

                Here are two reasons you might not want to use Signal: Your contacts, your settings, your entire Signal experience is tied to a Signal account managed by Signal. Metadata—who you’re talking to, when, and how often—can still be collected and analyzed. Question everything.

                ? Offline
                ? Offline
                Guest
                wrote on last edited by
                #37

                So use no messenger? Any decentralized options?

                S T 2 Replies Last reply
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                • W [email protected]

                  Signal is great, that's why I'm suspicious that this recent story is to not only target journalism, but also secure app communication. I wouldn't be surprised if it's used as an excuse to remove signal from the app stores.

                  Hopefully I'm just being too paranoid.

                  N This user is from outside of this forum
                  N This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #38

                  I don’t think that’s the case, I just think it is old people not know how to use technology.

                  Additionally, all these people in power are using signal, how is that not a loud endorsement that everyone should be on it.

                  Sadly, my contact list remains mostly on WhatsApp and Facebook messenger only.

                  D 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • T [email protected]

                    Here are two reasons you might not want to use Signal: Your contacts, your settings, your entire Signal experience is tied to a Signal account managed by Signal. Metadata—who you’re talking to, when, and how often—can still be collected and analyzed. Question everything.

                    S This user is from outside of this forum
                    S This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #39

                    The issue of centralization can be a problem, but in regards to metadata, sealed sender does a lot to prevent Signal's servers from knowing who messages who, which makes Signal a lot more private than described here.

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • T [email protected]

                      Here are two reasons you might not want to use Signal: Your contacts, your settings, your entire Signal experience is tied to a Signal account managed by Signal. Metadata—who you’re talking to, when, and how often—can still be collected and analyzed. Question everything.

                      S This user is from outside of this forum
                      S This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #40

                      "The only metadata that Signal would have access to, is the phone number used to register, the date of initial registration, and the date of last use."

                      https://www.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/exd92f/what_kind_of_usermessage_metadata_is_observed_and/

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • florencia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneF [email protected]
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                        [email protected]
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #41

                        Regarding the trick of an adversary gaining access by emailing or SMS'ing a QR code for adding another device...

                        Why does the new device not demand the PIN before being added?

                        J 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • ? Guest

                          So use no messenger? Any decentralized options?

                          S This user is from outside of this forum
                          S This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #42

                          SimpleX is decentralized, requires no phone number, based on Signal code. Screws up invitations via FB/Messenger though.

                          H ? 2 Replies Last reply
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                          • J [email protected]

                            The government does not "own" Meta. Words have meanings.

                            X This user is from outside of this forum
                            X This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #43

                            Lots and lots of meanings.

                            1 Reply Last reply
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                            • breadguy@kbin.earthB [email protected]

                              xmpp is like if deltachat was good

                              U This user is from outside of this forum
                              U This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #44

                              What I dislike about XMPP is that the client ecosystem is definitely weaker than DeltaChat. DeltaChat "just works", and it works incredibly similar and efficient across devices.

                              But yes, I wouldn't mind if the world used XMPP instead, honestly.

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • florencia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneF [email protected]
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                                adbenitez@lemmy.mlA This user is from outside of this forum
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                                [email protected]
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #45

                                No, it is not.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • florencia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneF [email protected]
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                                  G This user is from outside of this forum
                                  [email protected]
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #46

                                  Consider Briar.

                                  Uses Tor. Works directly over Bluetooth/WiFi if the internet is censored or shut down. Decentralized, no accounts. No phone number required.

                                  The app is super barebones right now - feels like SMS - but it works.

                                  infernal_pizza@lemm.eeI pathief@lemmy.worldP 2 Replies Last reply
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                                  • N [email protected]

                                    I don’t think that’s the case, I just think it is old people not know how to use technology.

                                    Additionally, all these people in power are using signal, how is that not a loud endorsement that everyone should be on it.

                                    Sadly, my contact list remains mostly on WhatsApp and Facebook messenger only.

                                    D This user is from outside of this forum
                                    D This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #47

                                    Anyone who uses Facebook messenger as their only messenging app will need to text or call me. Fuck that. I do, however, use WhatsApp and discord for work and uni group chats. If or when that's no longer the case, people who only use those will need to text me, too.

                                    N D 2 Replies Last reply
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                                    • florencia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneF [email protected]
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                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #48

                                      What kind of private communication can we talk about if you must have a valid phone number to use Signal?! Lol

                                      danhab99@programming.devD pathief@lemmy.worldP 2 Replies Last reply
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                                      • ? Guest

                                        What kind of private communication can we talk about if you must have a valid phone number to use Signal?! Lol

                                        danhab99@programming.devD This user is from outside of this forum
                                        danhab99@programming.devD This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #49

                                        Signal recently implemented "usernames" instead of phone numbers

                                        G P ? 3 Replies Last reply
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                                        • G [email protected]

                                          Consider Briar.

                                          Uses Tor. Works directly over Bluetooth/WiFi if the internet is censored or shut down. Decentralized, no accounts. No phone number required.

                                          The app is super barebones right now - feels like SMS - but it works.

                                          infernal_pizza@lemm.eeI This user is from outside of this forum
                                          infernal_pizza@lemm.eeI This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #50

                                          How does the Bluetooth work? If you're close enough to be I'm bluetooth range with someone aren't you close enough to just speak to them?

                                          G 1 Reply Last reply
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