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Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption

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

#271

Post by hkh28 »

jrochkind1 wrote: post #244
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)

If the law enforcement is talking to you in the U.S., the only right answer is "I'd prefer to have a laywer here." Not a joke, for real. They are experts at getting you to talk to them even if you know this. They are experts at getting you to say things that incriminate you or your friends -- that you or your friends have done nothing wrong (in your opinion/as far as you know) will not protect you. The only answers y…

You should actually be careful to say exactly this phrase: "I want a lawyer" and not a word more.

> [W]hen a suspect in an interrogation told detectives to “just give me a lawyer dog,” the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that the suspect was, in fact, asking for a “lawyer dog,” and not invoking his constitutional right to counsel.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/02...

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

#272

Post by lobster45 »

AnonC wrote: post #92

The biggest drawback with Signal for protesters is that it exposes the user's phone number to everyone else in groups (just like WhatsApp does). There is no way to even hide the fact that you have an account on Signal. I can add phone numbers by enumeration into my contacts and Signal will show who among my contacts is on it. If the authorities don't use tactics like they did in Hong Kong, the protesters may be safe…

What about Telegram?

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

#273

Post by Vinnl »

jhoechtl wrote: post #208
Vinnl wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see how the two are related? They've already got a Desktop client.

The Desktop Client is only functional when you "pair" it to your phone client.

Right, and they could do the same for the web client, so I don't see how the phone number requirement would prevent them from creating one.

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

#274

Post by Vinnl »

travisporter wrote: post #270

I use signal, but am a little bit at unease because it's free. What's in it for the developers? Whatsapp is e2e and all that but the reason it got bought by facebook for an obscene amount of money is what gave me pause

They're currently funded by donations [1] by individuals and organisations - among whom one of the WhatsApp cofounders, who made a significant investment using his WhatsApp money.

[1] https://signal.org/donate/

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

#275

Post by ubercow13 »

jhauris wrote: post #245
sadfklsjlkjwt wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Or you can go to a corner shop and buy a Lyca or Lebara SIM with cash. No need to give them your address. You can buy top ups in cash as well. At least in Western Europe this is available everywhere, pretty much. This is not legal in Norway.

There are many countries it isn't legal in, which is a shame. The ability to get an anonymous phone ought to be something people care about preserving.

It's illegal in the vast majority of countries [1] including Germany, France. Attempting to build a safe secure communication system around phone numbers that is suitable for situations like this, relying on them as being somehow anonymous, is just a complete non-starter. Even if you don't have to register the phone number, the cell provider will still know your location history. I think it just shows how America-centric Signal is.

[1] https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/3018/timeline-sim...

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

#276

Post by md8 »

AnonC wrote: post #92

The biggest drawback with Signal for protesters is that it exposes the user's phone number to everyone else in groups (just like WhatsApp does). There is no way to even hide the fact that you have an account on Signal. I can add phone numbers by enumeration into my contacts and Signal will show who among my contacts is on it. If the authorities don't use tactics like they did in Hong Kong, the protesters may be safe…

Session is built to fix this problem https://getsession.org/

It does not require a number to setup an account and communicate.

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

#277

Post by fsflover »

nix23 wrote: post #248
fsflover wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can access email only through Tor and they will never know your real IP.

Wrong...they probably don't know your IP..but a agency that has global surveillance in place, can find your source IP quite easy.

All typical attacks on Tor are known for many years already. If you follow the advises from the Tor website, it will be very hard (nearly impossible) to find you. What do you mean by "quite easy"?

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

#278

Post by vesche »

travisporter wrote: post #270

I use signal, but am a little bit at unease because it's free. What's in it for the developers? Whatsapp is e2e and all that but the reason it got bought by facebook for an obscene amount of money is what gave me pause

The Signal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. They're funded by Brian Acton (former co-founder of WhatsApp, net worth ~3 billion), donations, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation. They are not owned by Facebook not sure why you said that.

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

#279

Post by dfxm12 »

vincentmarle wrote: post #256
jrochkind1 wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the law enforcement is talking to you in the U.S., the only right answer is "I'd prefer to have a laywer here." Not a joke, for real. They are experts at getting you to talk to them even if you know this. They are experts at getting you to say things that incriminate you or your friends -- that you or your friends have done nothing wrong (in your opinion/as far as you know) will not protect you. The only answers y…

I’ve heard this before but here’s my practical problem: I don’t know any lawyers. I have literally no idea who to call in such a situation. Do I have to go find and retain a lawyer beforehand just in case I might need one later?

In the case you get arrested, you'll be made aware that if you don't have a lawyer, one will be appointed to you.

If you're not arrested, you should be able to just leave the interrogation (emphasis on should, of course).

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

#280

Post by lozf »

m12k wrote: post #114
hjek wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Signal is not only used by protesters[0][1] so discovering that a phone number is connected to a Signal account by no means implies that the phone is used by a protester. [0]: https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2020/01/23/deploye... [1]: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/17/tories-swit...

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)

Thanks! Just gonna need your phone number (for plausible deinabality) ;)

... And just hope there are no records that I've been using it since the days when it was 2 apps,- Red Phone & TextSecure, before becoming Signal.

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