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Earlier quoted context omitted.
Beeper is doing a lot more than just an iMessage proxy.
Technically it's not a proxy. As every device (apparently) connects directly to Apple's servers.
Beeper the company also has Beeper (Cloud) which bridges a whole lot of chat apps via Matrix to their other client app, including iMessage via a Mac relay.
> "if Apple truly cares about the privacy and security of their own iPhone users, why would they stop a service that enables their own users to now send encrypted messages to Android users, rather than using unsecure SMS?" - Eric Migicovsky 1. If Apple sees this as a gap, it is very obvious that they would address that themselves, rather than by allowing a hack to exploit loopholes in their architecture 2. Since Appl…
> 2. Since Apple has no control over the Beeper mini client, they would not consider it safe, it could easily be spying on users without their knowledge. Since I have no control over iMessage, I would not consider it safe. It could easily be spying on me without my knowledge.
One thing which is really confusing is why are Android users obsessed with iMessage? Android users can send text messages to iPhones, the can call iPhone users, and they can use third party messaging apps to communicate with iPhone users. It really isn’t clear to me why so many people are so angry they cannot use iMessage on Android.
One thing which is really confusing is why are Android users obsessed with iMessage? Android users can send text messages to iPhones, the can call iPhone users, and they can use third party messaging apps to communicate with iPhone users. It really isn’t clear to me why so many people are so angry they cannot use iMessage on Android.
Because I want the pictures and videos my iPhone-using parents send me to not be crunched to shit, and I'm not going through the effort of teaching non-technical users to use a different messaging client. Same with the group chats that my partner's extended family keep including me in.
This is a wake-up call. It's high time we demand open-source messaging standards across all platforms. Imagine a world where communication isn't dictated by corporate interests but by user needs and innovation.
What, like this https://github.com/signalapp?
The only thing holding this back are end users. Not corporations or governments. A safe, vetable 'standard' exists, it just needs ratifying by a standards body. It is available cross platform and is free of charge and free-as-in-beer (mostly AGPL I believe).
Messages app exists to send SMS, MMS and soon RCS. Apple developed a convenience feature that allows users to send enhanced messages to other users of the platform. Since the platform is successful and has had compelling and useful features added, it has found popularity in territories that traditionally had free or cheap SMS bundles. The rest of the world didn't have this golden noose and settled on other platforms (WhatsApp, FB Messenger, Telegram, Line, WeChat, Signal, Viber, etc...) across all platforms.
Edited spelling/layout.
As usual, Gruber was right on the money. Via Threads yesterday: "My prediction is that Apple will make changes—fixing bugs and/or closing loopholes—that break Beeper Mini. It’s untenable that there’s unsanctioned client software for a messaging platform for which privacy and security are a primary feature. It’s a very nice app, remarkably clever, and for now works like a charm, but if Apple wanted an iMessage client…
It looks to me like there is an advantageous business relationship between Beeper and their customers. As a general rule, Apple is free to change their programs and how they work. However, I think there’s a plausible argument for tortious interference here if the sole purpose was to prevent interoperability.
That doesn't mean it's a sure winner, just that it's a live question until more info is known. I imagine Apple would say they need to tighten up any parts of their system that could allow for spoofing or other security issues, and that was their 'legitimate' reason to make these changes.
If the metadata includes the OS version, Apple probably blacklisted any new devices registered in the past few days with validation blobs generated from that binary.
(The binary was sourced from OS X 10.8 which is ~11 years old now)