Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption • Hacker News Board

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#181

Post by Hamuko » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:38 AM UTC

pwdisswordfish2 wrote: post #154

m12k wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, if you're ever asked why you're on Signal, just say you wanted to stay in touch with a programmer friend who's not on Facebook/WhatsApp, and they suggested Signal (that is now literally true as well - I suggest you try Signal, friend)

Couldn't you just say "I really like the user interface." Or "The logo looks cool." Or "It had 4 stars." Of "It had lots of good reviews."

I mean, I don't get why it has to get any more complicated than "I have friends that use it". That's the main reason for having any messaging app.

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#182

Post by partyboat1586 » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:38 AM UTC

techntoke wrote: post #33

matheusmoreira wrote: post #2

I hope one day apps like Signal will be the default for everyone , not just protesters in a time of crisis.

The Signal app experience leaves a lot to be desired compared to Telegram or Matrix.

It's just a fact that Telegram has more features. Every few weeks I get a notification with a long list of features, it's a more rich experience. My main favourite thing is just that gifs show up bigger.

Muted chat, chat groups, draw on photos, stickers on photos, quiz / polls, dice rolls.

Signal does cover the basics well through (GIFs, voice messages, video, photo, replies) and it has a clean interface.

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#183

Post by sekai » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:40 AM UTC

jwr wrote: post #168

What really hurts Signal are two things: * sub-par user experience: WhatsApp is just nicer and smoother, and people tend to like that * very few people understand that Signal DOES NOT get your full contact list, while Facebook (through WhatsApp) does Especially the second point is very relevant with the current situation — you do not necessarily want to expose your entire social graph to Facebook. But so few people u…

Telegram is a great alternative also, offers encrypted chat's also.

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#184

Post by outadoc » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:41 AM UTC

jwr wrote: post #168

What really hurts Signal are two things: * sub-par user experience: WhatsApp is just nicer and smoother, and people tend to like that * very few people understand that Signal DOES NOT get your full contact list, while Facebook (through WhatsApp) does Especially the second point is very relevant with the current situation — you do not necessarily want to expose your entire social graph to Facebook. But so few people u…

Honestly even if the UX is still behind WhatsApp, I have seen it improve continuously since I've started using it. Images (with annotations), videos (with some controls like trimming), gifs, sound recordings, stickers, emojis... it's great and honestly good enough for most imo. Especially compared to WhatsApp which isn't really on the bleeding edge of social features either.

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#185

Post by outadoc » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:41 AM UTC

sekai wrote: post #183

jwr wrote: post #168

What really hurts Signal are two things: * sub-par user experience: WhatsApp is just nicer and smoother, and people tend to like that * very few people understand that Signal DOES NOT get your full contact list, while Facebook (through WhatsApp) does Especially the second point is very relevant with the current situation — you do not necessarily want to expose your entire social graph to Facebook. But so few people u…

Telegram is a great alternative also, offers encrypted chat's also.

Not encrypted by default afaik.

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#186

Post by xerxesaa » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:43 AM UTC

nickik wrote: post #132

0xy wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely agree. I really wish Telegram would get off the phone number system, especially after the embarrassing hack in Brazil. It's not explicitly Telegram's fault, but if your primary authentication method is insecure it's at least a little bit your fault. Phone numbers are NOT safe. I don't know why SMS MFA is even a thing, they're worse than passwords. When you use phone numbers or SMS for security, you are put…

Telegram should maybe just use proper encryption first.

Can someone explain to me why MtProto is not considered proper encryption? Genuinely asking, not challenging.

At least since version 2.0 it seems it's using AES encryption: https://core.telegram.org/mtproto/description

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#187

Post by est31 » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:44 AM UTC

jwr wrote: post #168

What really hurts Signal are two things: * sub-par user experience: WhatsApp is just nicer and smoother, and people tend to like that * very few people understand that Signal DOES NOT get your full contact list, while Facebook (through WhatsApp) does Especially the second point is very relevant with the current situation — you do not necessarily want to expose your entire social graph to Facebook. But so few people u…

> Signal DOES NOT get your full contact list

The full contact list is uploaded to Signal servers by the phones. The only protection layer that users have is the questionable security of Intel's SGX.

It's still much better than what WhatsApp is doing, just not a black and white situation.

To add a point to your list: Signal does not have automatic cloud backup of messages, unlike WhatsApp. On WhatsApp, 30% of users have cloud backups enabled [1], meaning that you can basically assume that any reasonably sized group's messages can be accessed by people who have subpoena-power over Google (chance that there is no backup-enabled account in a group of n people is (1-0.3)^n... for 6 people it's already 12%).

[1]: https://telegra.ph/whatsapp-backdoor-01-16

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#188

Post by partyboat1586 » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:46 AM UTC

outadoc wrote: post #185

sekai wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Telegram is a great alternative also, offers encrypted chat's also.

Not encrypted by default afaik.

Yeah you have to manually start an encrypted chat. I always thought that increased the sense of security since you have the lock symbol and all but apparently people prefer encryption by default.

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#189

Post by izacus » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:48 AM UTC

pwdisswordfish2 wrote: post #154

m12k wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, if you're ever asked why you're on Signal, just say you wanted to stay in touch with a programmer friend who's not on Facebook/WhatsApp, and they suggested Signal (that is now literally true as well - I suggest you try Signal, friend)

Couldn't you just say "I really like the user interface." Or "The logo looks cool." Or "It had 4 stars." Of "It had lots of good reviews."

And the cop will say "I don't believe you you terrorist" and lock you up until you say something else. This has happened time and time again, including in the latest Hong Kong protests, on American border interrogations and it will happen in these US protests as well.

Once you're on the list of suspects from someone elses Signal chat, you're not going to persuade a suspicious official by bullshitting.

Re: Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

#190

Post by partyboat1586 » Fri, Jun 05, 2020, 9:48 AM UTC

sekai wrote: post #183

jwr wrote: post #168

What really hurts Signal are two things: * sub-par user experience: WhatsApp is just nicer and smoother, and people tend to like that * very few people understand that Signal DOES NOT get your full contact list, while Facebook (through WhatsApp) does Especially the second point is very relevant with the current situation — you do not necessarily want to expose your entire social graph to Facebook. But so few people u…

Telegram is a great alternative also, offers encrypted chat's also.

imo it has the best UX of any chat app right now. It's like a souped up WhatsApp. Faster too.