FBI used iPhone notification data to retrieve deleted Signal messages

Post by tsimionescu » Fri, Apr 10, 2026, 1:36 PM UTC

nashashmi wrote: post #50

chasil wrote: post #7

First, a critical setting for Signal users: "Signal’s settings include an option that prevents the actual message content from being previewed in notifications. However, it appears the defendant did not have that setting enabled, which, in turn, seemingly allowed the system to store the content in the database." Second, how can I see this notification history?

On android its quite easy. There is a page of a protocol address that has all notifications show. I used to have a shortcut to it. It has been years since I was on android. But it was really useful each time I did not see a notification in time. Edit: typo

Post by seb1204 » Fri, Apr 10, 2026, 1:38 PM UTC

jhalstead wrote: post #22

chasil wrote: post #7

First, a critical setting for Signal users: "Signal’s settings include an option that prevents the actual message content from being previewed in notifications. However, it appears the defendant did not have that setting enabled, which, in turn, seemingly allowed the system to store the content in the database." Second, how can I see this notification history?

On a Pixel, I can see some history by going to Android > Settings > Notifications > Manage > Notification History

Post by rustyhancock » Fri, Apr 10, 2026, 1:40 PM UTC

niek_pas wrote: post #33

I wonder why Apple doesn't 'just' delete the notification data associated with the app from the internal database when the user deletes the app? It seems like asking for problems to just keep old notification content around forever.

Post by exitb » Fri, Apr 10, 2026, 1:41 PM UTC

shantara wrote: post #4

frizlab wrote: post #2

Aren’t notifications supposed to be encrypted for Signal?

iOS stores the previously displayed notifications in an internal database, which was used to access the data. It’s outside of Signal’s control, they recommend disabling showing notification content in their settings to prevent this attack vector

Post by huxley » Fri, Apr 10, 2026, 1:42 PM UTC

cdrnsf wrote: post #66

jonpalmisc wrote: post #14

Settings > Notifications > Notification Content > Show: "Name Only" or "No Name or Content" I've had this enabled to prevent sensitive messages from appearing in full whilst showing someone something on my phone, but I guess this is an added benefit as well.

Disable Apple Intelligence summaries for sensitive app notifications too.