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Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

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Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#111

Post by 4814 »

elaus wrote: post #9

It's really annoying that WhatsApp chat export isn't available in Germany. I used to export my chats as backup and for creating fun stats for group chats with friends, but that feature got removed about a year ago. I haven't found a way to circumvent this restriction. There were some tricks like installing a modified Russion WhatsApp APK but that risk didn't seem worth it.

Faced the same problem a couple weeks ago. I ended up paying for this chrome extension which crawls them from the web client and worked for me: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/backup-whatsapp-ch...

A shame that WhatsApp had to remove that feature.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#112

Post by verytrivial »

gshulegaard wrote: post #103
izacus wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. I've tried to report bugs and talk to developers about this but there's one fundamental problem here - the Signal team fundamentally does not value chat history the same way a lot of people do. They thin…

I think it's astute of you to point out that the Signal developers do not value chat history the same way many people do, but I am not sure I track with this: > It's not a technical issue - they just think you're wrong when you want to keep your conversations. as much. When you are treating security as a number one priority I think there are a lot of things that become technical issues which aren't typically. Transfe…

It's a bit of a cart before the horse issue, no?

I mean what is the point of obsessing about the security of the messages if you don't value the messages themselves?

Some people[1] clearly value message history far beyond the transfer point to chat itself, and making people choose between being spied upon and not having message history, I think many people will choose trusting that they won't lose their messages.

[1] Myself included. I check with Signal[2] every six months to see if they have a backup option, then switch back to WhatsApp when I see they don't. Phones die. My messages are more important than my phone.

[2] https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007059752-Ba...

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#113

Post by tw04 »

herbstein wrote: post #97
Lutger wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I can't believe that. I mean, in a sense, all software is just a vehicle for the data it processes, and the actual value lies in the data - not the software. That data is chats for Signal. If they think that's worthless, even just the history of it, it means they don't really value their own application. They are wrong.

The Signal protocol is forward-secret. I don't know the nitty-gritty specifics of the protocol, but the essence is this: You don't want someone getting access to your account two years from now to be able to access every old message. Consider every message a separate object that gets encrypted. The keys are changed/updated each time a new device is added to an account. That new device only knows the new key(s), and t…

>You don't want someone getting access to your account two years from now to be able to access every old message.

The messages I don't want people getting ahold of are either created with expirations or I manually delete them. I couldn't care less if someone 2 years from now can read a chat log between me and my mom if it means that I can actually read them 2 years and multiple devices away from now as well.

What I don't want is to be forced to message with one app for secure chat and something completely different for daily driving. It's a pain, and nobody in my circle is willing to do it (and I don't blame them).

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#114

Post by mandelbrotwurst »

verytrivial wrote: post #112
gshulegaard wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's astute of you to point out that the Signal developers do not value chat history the same way many people do, but I am not sure I track with this: > It's not a technical issue - they just think you're wrong when you want to keep your conversations. as much. When you are treating security as a number one priority I think there are a lot of things that become technical issues which aren't typically. Transfe…

It's a bit of a cart before the horse issue, no? I mean what is the point of obsessing about the security of the messages if you don't value the messages themselves? Some people[1] clearly value message history far beyond the transfer point to chat itself, and making people choose between being spied upon and not having message history, I think many people will choose trusting that they won't lose their messages. [1]…

There is still value in being able to securely communicate in the present even if you are not able to maintain a permanently searchable log of all activity.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#115

Post by OkGoDoIt »

xrisk wrote: post #62
izacus wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. I've tried to report bugs and talk to developers about this but there's one fundamental problem here - the Signal team fundamentally does not value chat history the same way a lot of people do. They thin…

Off-topic but does Signal support independent multi-device yet? Sorry I can’t find reliable information about it online!

Nope, and that’s the biggest blocker for me. I own multiple smart phones (work and personal), iPad, and two computers (windows and Mac). So far Facebook messenger is the only reliable way to do messaging across all of them, which is a shame because I hate Facebook and I don’t particularly like messenger. But I have not found a single other solution that works cross-device and cross-platform. It also helps that basically everyone is on Facebook messenger, but I’d be willing to put effort into trying to migrate people to other chat solutions if there was literally anything else out there that works well on multiple devices.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#116

Post by proactivesvcs »

gaius_baltar wrote: post #41
FreakyT wrote: post #5

The issue with Signal that annoys me most is the complete lack of any meaningful backup/export on iOS. I lost my entire chat history when I got a new phone because their bizarre "proximity based" solution failed.

I'm just curious why this feature exists in Android, but not iOS. Maybe due to some stupid Apple Store rule?

From what I've read on the forums, by the developers, is that the backup and restore process on Android has been a technical nightmare for them and it's fragile as it is. I presume that since they have limited resources they can only put so much effort into adding the feature to iOS (and improving it on Android) and have been concentrating on improved groups, group calling, Desktop calling, user name support, etc.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#117

Post by kondu »

antirez wrote: post #76
actuator wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a correction antirez. WhatsApp is extremely big in Asia too, specially South Asia.

Thanks! I was still thinking that Line and Wechat entirely dominated the Asian market.

You were partially correct: wechat is big in China, Whatsapp is big in the Indian subcontinent

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#118

Post by parliament32 »

_l4jh wrote: post #19

I have been using Signal for two years now and I love it. However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. Just build an encrypted blob and zip it up and pop it on my iCloud or Google Drive or leave it local and let me deal with it but I need something .…

Why would you want this? You don't save history for other types of chats, like in person conversations or phone calls (even though you could, with your phone recording in your pocket or call recorder apps). If something important comes up, like an address or recipe, copy/paste it into your notes app. Otherwise set your messages to expire after a month and be done with it.

I used to be a message-hoarder too, but I recently realized it was all utterly useless and the cost of maintaining and transferring that history around everywhere wasn't worth the twice-a-year I actually wanted to search for something.

Signal isn't email.

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#119

Post by xiphias2 »

xrisk wrote: post #62
izacus wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> However I really, really hope they can work on a good backup and restore process as losing my message history because I have to reinstall the app on my desktop[1] or have to reset my phone is a horrible experience. I've tried to report bugs and talk to developers about this but there's one fundamental problem here - the Signal team fundamentally does not value chat history the same way a lot of people do. They thin…

Off-topic but does Signal support independent multi-device yet? Sorry I can’t find reliable information about it online!

It’s open protocol and source though, so making a multi-device version wouldn’t be impossible

Re: Signal WhatsApp Chats Import

#120

Post by tinco »

mandelbrotwurst wrote: post #114
verytrivial wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit of a cart before the horse issue, no? I mean what is the point of obsessing about the security of the messages if you don't value the messages themselves? Some people[1] clearly value message history far beyond the transfer point to chat itself, and making people choose between being spied upon and not having message history, I think many people will choose trusting that they won't lose their messages. [1]…

There is still value in being able to securely communicate in the present even if you are not able to maintain a permanently searchable log of all activity.

Yes, but less value. And most would say not enough value.
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