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Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

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Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#261

Post by thomastjeffery »

dodgerdan wrote: post #193
lucideer wrote: post #153

This is bizarre. If this were an in-depth announcement with a long and well-structured technical justification attached, I could understand. Though I suspect I'd likely disagree with the decision, I could probably accept it as a simple different of opinion if the arguments were evidently well-thought-through and considered. This blog-post is so lightweight. There's no technical analysis. There's barely any justificat…

Improving UI/UX around to clarify the SMS function is insecure is almost impossible. Google did research around SSL cert warnings a few years back, their conclusion was that people don’t read and just dismiss warnings, no mater what UI was. A frightening percentage of people also think the security padlock icon is actually a handbag. Most people simply lack the technical basis to understand the security implications…

That's assuming a lot of context. Your talking about a tiny icon next to the address bar in a browser. Of course people didn't always know what that was!

Signal's primary feature is encrypted messaging. You don't get it without at least seeing the word "encrypted" somewhere.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#262

Post by zwily »

chimeracoder wrote: post #234
tadfisher wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The downside is that they will opportunistically send your messages via Signal. If the recipient chooses to not have SIgnal installed any longer, then your messages go into a black hole. This became much more of a problem for me after they rolled out their shitcoin; suddenly my techie friends were just not responding to messages, and Signal as my main SMS app was not falling back to SMS for these folks.

> If the recipient chooses to not have SIgnal installed any longer, then your messages go into a black hole. For two weeks, messages will be shown as sent but not delivered, and after two weeks Signal will not let you send messages to that number until it reconnects to the Signal servers. For comparison, Apple automatically sends all SMS messages via iMessage opportunistically, and if the user then switches to anothe…

That hasn't been true for awhile:

https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage/

They will also deregister you automatically after some period of time. What you described is the situation several years ago, but it's much better now.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#263

Post by wakeupcall »

Combining signal and sms to have a single messaging app is a big reason as of why I keep using it.

But like many recent developments, I'm just left dumbfounded by their high-level decision making. I've stopped recommending signal to tech persons for a while. I don't want yet another messaging app either. Matrix is serving me well.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#264

Post by monetus »

dodgerdan wrote: post #152
monetus wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Weird, I am in the southeast U.S. and telegram is eating signal's lunch in the social networks here.

It’s a big pie, they’re also fairly different. And to be honest it’s only a matter of time before Telegram has a (public) security incident that drives much more people to E2EE messaging.

I'm curious how long it will be before that public incident - they rolled their own cryptography right? With that, I would imagine that if it hasn't been pwned yet, then there would be a disproportionate amount of people trying to break it.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#265

Post by zppln »

> There are three big reasons why we’re removing SMS support for the Android app now: prioritizing security and privacy, ensuring people aren’t hit with unexpected messaging bills, and creating a clear and intelligible user experience for anyone sending messages on Signal.

Pretty weak reasoning to me. Just do what Apple does and color sms messages some other color or whatever. Problem solved.

This is gonna make me drop Signal. I use it as my default sms app and have been very happy with it, but most of my conversations (although most actual messages are Signal) are still over sms so it'll have to go. I can't be bothered to roll a bunch of different apps.

Still, I'm grateful for the work the Signal team has done over the years. Sad to see us part ways!

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#267

Post by dodgerdan »

thomastjeffery wrote: post #261
dodgerdan wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Improving UI/UX around to clarify the SMS function is insecure is almost impossible. Google did research around SSL cert warnings a few years back, their conclusion was that people don’t read and just dismiss warnings, no mater what UI was. A frightening percentage of people also think the security padlock icon is actually a handbag. Most people simply lack the technical basis to understand the security implications…

That's assuming a lot of context. Your talking about a tiny icon next to the address bar in a browser. Of course people didn't always know what that was! Signal's primary feature is encrypted messaging. You don't get it without at least seeing the word "encrypted" somewhere.

Counter point most people think Telegram is e2ee secure messaging, but Telegram never said they were.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#269

Post by TheNewsIsHere »

causi wrote: post #162
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?")

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. I learned to stop trying to improve the technical lives of other people after Dropbox's decision to restrict free accou…

You know, I haven’t really thought of it like this. Those for whom I take an interest in their technical lives typically get a spiel from me about whatever solution I’m offering. That spiel often includes something about how “they’ll probably change this eventually in ways no one wants, but the most we can do is speak up. We probably won’t get options.”

But I have to admit your perspective calls to me. I can imagine it would feel quite freeing.

I’m in a minor mess of a situation with my dad’s phone and computer because I’ve tried to be helpful. Now he resists help and that makes both of us frustrated.

Re: Removing SMS support from Signal Android (soon)

#270

Post by fortylove »

Signal consistently has been a poor UX for me. Sure it's super secure and that's nice. But I don't really care about the security of the convo with my aging parents. I care that they can easily respond to me.

I'm happy we have an available secure chat for people that need/want it, but I'm more than happy to keep it relegated to niche uses until it gets more user friendly.

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