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Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

signal.org

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Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#531

Post by paranoidrobot »

caf wrote: post #490
nicholasjarnold wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree completely here. This is terrible news from my perspective too. I use Signal for _all messaging_ (e2e secure or not) for the reasons that you mention. I've onboarded friends and family, too, ensuring them it should be set as their default messaging app and that it _just works_. Unfortunately, people in the general population seem to have pretty much zero tolerance for any friction whatsoever. If they have to…

If they have to use 2 apps, they'll just end up communicating with me in the clear using their "default SMS" app on their phone. That's what this is going to result it...a reduction in overall message security due to people defaulting to what's easier...which is to _not_ have to remember which app to use for which "send a message" purpose. Fuck. Exactly right. In fact, I will be doing this too. Right now, I use Signa…

> I'll just have to hope that Google figures out a way integrate a seamless, opportunistic end-to-end encryption protocol into the default Android messaging client, since Signal is deliberately dropping the ball here.

This is what Google's RCS implementation is, to my understanding.

Although the end-to-end bit might be a bit on the squishy "kinda-maybe-sorta" side, rather than Signal's enforcing of it.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#532

Post by dnebdal »

branon wrote: post #134

SMS/MMS needs to die at this point. I am glad to see Signal take a hard line here even though it will cause some headache for users, of which I am one, though I do not use it to send outgoing SMS/MMS. These protocols are insecure, not private, and fundamentally incompatible with Signal's mission. Supporting them at all, while highly convenient, is a queer oxymoron for an app like Signal. We have to rip the bandaid of…

What do you suggest as a replacement for SMS? The replacement has to be supported by every device everywhere (including feature phones), should not require any deals with a FAANG company, and should still work when your data plan runs out. Being unencrypted is completely unimportant for 99+% of the uses I still have for SMS, but those uses are still important.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#533

Post by zalebz »

agilob wrote: post #6

>Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon) Literally the only reason I recommend others and use Signal myself? Seriously, Signal doesn't have the userbase to drop SMS support. All my Signal contacts use WhatsApp or Telegram that I already have installed. I use signal mostly as a SMS app, secondly as E2E communication. It will be easier to uninstall Signal.

The complete lack of awareness of this decision is astounding, the userbase is about to disappear. Those of us that convinced non-technical friends and family to use Signal are now expected to explain to them how to juggle 2 messaging apps? yeah it's not happening, the uninstall rate is going to be huge and there will be no recovery of those users

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#536

Post by senectus1 »

eatwater123 wrote: post #10

This is an awful decision. I've converted some friends and family to Signal over the past years (it took a while) and it is now their default messaging app on their phones. This is going to confuse them and is going to make it difficult for me to keep convincing them that Signal is the route to use. ("Why do I need 3 apps (Android Messages, Signal, Whatsapp) to talk to people?")

I'm conflicted. I understand why they have made this decision... but it sucks when it comes to introducing people to secure messaging.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#538

Post by zalebz »

mercacona wrote: post #338

Signal developer giving some extra context to the news: https://community.signalusers.org/t/signal-blog-removing-sms... > So I guess the TL;DR is: SMS is on it’s way out in general, and in a world where Signal supports SMS, all of SMS’s shortcomings are often attributed to Signal itself, all while confusing people into thinking their SMS’s are secure.

I'd start polishing up that resume.

I was responsible for roughly a dozen Signal converts. They will all be uninstalling when this takes effect. It seems like everyone else in this thread is saying the same.

Prepare for a mass exodus of users.

None of us want to be responsible for training/tech support for how to use 2 messaging apps for non-technical users

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#540

Post by Fatnino »

caf wrote: post #490
nicholasjarnold wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree completely here. This is terrible news from my perspective too. I use Signal for _all messaging_ (e2e secure or not) for the reasons that you mention. I've onboarded friends and family, too, ensuring them it should be set as their default messaging app and that it _just works_. Unfortunately, people in the general population seem to have pretty much zero tolerance for any friction whatsoever. If they have to…

If they have to use 2 apps, they'll just end up communicating with me in the clear using their "default SMS" app on their phone. That's what this is going to result it...a reduction in overall message security due to people defaulting to what's easier...which is to _not_ have to remember which app to use for which "send a message" purpose. Fuck. Exactly right. In fact, I will be doing this too. Right now, I use Signa…

I hope you're not too invested in Google making a chat thing work long term.

There's an overwhelming mountain of evidence that says that ends poorly.

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