How Signal Walks the Line Between Anarchism and Pragmatism
How Signal Walks the Line Between Anarchism and Pragmatism
The privacy-focused messaging app arose from a fringe culture that emphasized individual autonomy and skepticism of authority. As it tries to go mainstream, can it escape its roots?
If you don't want to use Signal, use a forked version of it - Session (doesn't require a phone number, only has a code number as id) or SimpleX Chat (not even a code number, completely private)
How does simplex users then connect with each other?
One-time QR code that you "either exchange in person or via video call". I'm not sure how the latter works. The video shows it's exchanges in-app but how do I even get in contact? It can only be exchanged via some other channel like email which defeats the whole purpose...
earlier submission - https://old.lemmy.world/post/2036579
this is a duplicate
The fact that signal uses phone numbers as it's primary identifier seriously undermines their privacy claims. AIM with both parties using OMEMO was more private and secure
That's why I use matrix. No phone number.
@chickenwing @Paradox The XMPP reinvention? Why not use the original?
I think signal is a good inbetween because its privacy focus, even though it uses phone numbers. Which as you said and i agree with it makes it less anonimus however picking apart that it uses phone numbers. you could also dig deeper and say that using any app on a device not made by you could have spyware in the OS or in the lower level permissions (bios, firmware) aswell as what if a government agency made a honeypot server that uses the protocol for simplex as example such as arcane OS and how it was sold as the most secure phone which ended up being a honeypot. so i think its fair to say its secure enough for normies who want more privacy focused but not be mr.robot levels, which signal claims to be private which it is minus the use of phone numbers. but realistically if in the examples given, if you where to message a Bad actor and said bad actor was arrested and they used signal to message you. all they can get is that they messaged you which wouldn't really hold up in court because although you where in contact with said person doesnt mean you where doing something illegal and if you dont incriminate your self (such as pleading the 5th) they really cant do a whole lot to charge you with something. which for those who know signal ownly knows the time and date of messages sent and online time as described in this artical https://www.dailydot.com/debug/signal-subpoena-privacy-gag-order/