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Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

whispersystems.org

41–50 of 174 posts

Re: Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

#42

How is it working out? Is the messaging solid between Android and iOS? How is the group messaging working? Sorry, I just downloaded it, but I have no friends on the list yet. I'm impatient. I really want it to work.

I've been using textsecure for a long time now: so far I haven't had any issues messaging new iOS users including mixed groups. In my experience, there might be some mms edge cases when mixing with other messaging apps, but not too many and bug reports are monitored regularly on github.

Cool, thanks. So, I got it working with some friends. The start is rough when you don't have any contacts. There is no hand holding like you'd expect from other messaging apps. Especially the first message to the first contact is a tough discovery. I managed to mistakenly call instead of texting and another friend did exactly the same.

The error message when you are not registered yet is also not totally clear. One friend complained that he couldn't see when I had read the message (compared to Facebook Messenger).

On the plus side, you've come really far in usable crypto when you're being compared to that.

Re: Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

#44
post #4

One question I always have with secure systems distributed by app stores, even the open source ones, is how to you verify the source you're reading is the app you're using?

I guess there's no way but if it's open source, like this one, you can recompile it. The iOS version seems to use CocoaPods for the dependencies so it should be easy to compile the project.

Even that isn't strictly guaranteed to work; have you read ken's Reflections on Trusting Trust? Strictly speaking, you'd need to hand-compile (or at least hand-verify) the app, and trust the underlying platform as well (dalvik and/or the hardware).

Re: Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using textsecure for a long time now: so far I haven't had any issues messaging new iOS users including mixed groups. In my experience, there might be some mms edge cases when mixing with other messaging apps, but not too many and bug reports are monitored regularly on github.

Cool, thanks. So, I got it working with some friends. The start is rough when you don't have any contacts. There is no hand holding like you'd expect from other messaging apps. Especially the first message to the first contact is a tough discovery. I managed to mistakenly call instead of texting and another friend did exactly the same. The error message when you are not registered yet is also not totally clear. One f…

yeah, i gather this can't be used to completely replaces sms? The handy part of the android textsecure is that it's my sms app for everyone whether or not they use it. I just send a message the normal way and if they're using it, a little lock icon is on the message.

Re: Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

#46
post #37

What's the difference between this and Telegram? I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with what messaging app I'm supposed to use. Also, why is ios8 required?

Signal/TextSecure is Free Open Source Software. There is no company behind the development of the App. It is the Software with the best security model so far. The cryptography behind Telegram is not what you would expect of todays crypto standards. A lot of security researcher have commented on this already.

Sure there is a company (Whispersystems) doing most the work behind it. As they state: "dedicated development is supported by community donations and grants". This is good, it allows for very focused development.

Re: Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

#47
post #37

What's the difference between this and Telegram? I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with what messaging app I'm supposed to use. Also, why is ios8 required?

Is telegram open source? I didn't see it obviously linked from their website.

They publish source for their client programs (some even are GP v3), but they keep the server side stuff to themselves.

Re: Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

#49
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ha — found one: > You need to have Signal on your iPhone. Full stop. https://twitter.com/tqbf/status/572469319554088960

That's an endorsement, not security evaluation. Not exactly the same thing.

There's a link to it in that conversation: https://eprint.iacr.org/2014/904.pdf

Re: Signal 2.0 released with private messaging support

#50
post #43

If anyone from Whisper Systems is reading, can you please tell me how I can disassociate my number from a Cyanogenmod installed version of TextSecure in my (now formatted and sold) Nexus 4 and get it working with my no sim Nexus 5 with Google Voice/Hangouts?

Your unregistering options are best summarized here: http://support.whispersystems.org/customer/portal/articles/1...
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