- cross-posted to:
- inperson@slrpnk.net
- technology@lemmy.zip
- cross-posted to:
- inperson@slrpnk.net
- technology@lemmy.zip
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Signal still centrally collects metadata and requires a phone number to participate.
If you’re serious about privacy, ESPECIALLY if you’re part of a group looking to organize in a clandestine fashion, you should look into the vastly superior SimpleX Chat.
SimpleX is run by a Trump apologist and “white genocide” believer who believes the protests are fake and/or literally Stalin.
Edit: “all child abuse is horrible. But…” Evgeny is especially concerned about “genocide of young white girls” specifically, wondering “can Elon Musk help?”
Can all of this compromise the SimpleX protocol in any way?
Nope. To add a little context, imagine that someone who uses Lemmy (which is well known to be developed by a team of people not everyone agrees with) to crosspost the same articles to infinity told everyone not to use a piece of well regarded and audited open source privacy software because it’s main developer has sided with US republicans.
Idk why it’s always assholes coming up with good software (shoutout to the lemmy devs lol) but simplex is a great messenger nevertheless. I sure as hell won’t donate to that guy though, like ever.
Signal collects your IP address and the last IP address you sent a message to. They store that info to maintain their services. They also store your phone number, either of which can be tied back to your identity (in the US, don’t @ me, friends from across the pond).
The only thing these reveal is that you use Signal, which is currently still legal. Also, even if a judge ordered Signal to collect outgoing messages for your user, the content of your messages would already be encrypted. So unless your use of the service could be construed as illegal (or perhaps who you’re talking to), then it’s probably still safe to use.
However, all that said, I still agree that SimpleX is a better choice for activism. No phone numbers or other useful identifiers, uses a series of nodes rather than a central server, expiring contact-adding codes, etc… it’s simply better, if you need privacy against external threats.
And there’s no reason you can’t have both on your phone for different kinds of groups!
i switched my family over to signal. i cant do a seitch again xD
Signal is likely fine for a use case like that. Don’t feel like you need to switch if you don’t have a good reason. Signal is a great balance between stupid-easy useability and E2EE messaging, and people who actually need that extra mile of privacy should know better than to use Signal.
i cant do a seitch again
On a serious note, sticking to Signal for family group chats is fine. No need to move them over to another platform.
I feel you.
Or if you want to have a federated platform that’s closer to something like Discord, Matrix.
They dropped the phone number requirement a while ago
you mean, you don’t need one for registration?
I’ve been corrected on that.
Signal still centrally collects metadata
Signal doesn’t collect any useful data; they’ve been compelled by court to present all data they have on users and all they know are two time stamps. The date + time your phone number registered and the last day (not time) one of your apps (linked desktop app or tablet) pinged their server.
Source: https://signal.org/bigbrother/
… and requires a phone number to participate.
Because it originated as an overlay of the SMS/MMS network, a text messaging replacement, before everyone was “always online”. But that’s beside the point as you can now hide your phone number from others.
If you’re serious about privacy, ESPECIALLY if you’re part of a group looking to organize in a clandestine fashion, you should look into the vastly superior SimpleX Chat.
I wouldn’t recommend SimpleX chat, its developed by a Trump-supporting Antivaxxer who believes in wild conspiracy theories, not the kind of person I would put my trust in. Source: https://social.tchncs.de/@pixelcode/114633102552691724
If you’re serious abut privacy, ESPECIALLY if you’re part of a group looking to organize in a clandestine fashion, you should fund the development of your own secure channels. Don’t outsource the important stuff. For everyone else, there’s Signal.
The only metadata they collect is:
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The last time you connected to their server
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When you first registered
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Some users are mentioning SimpleX, which has some very good features, but for activism I’d really suggest Briar. Just scan each other’s QR codes to add all the needed contacts with no real names and create a mesh network through WiFi or Bluetooth connections between devices (no internet needed). If everyone is still bent on using Signal, whoever owns an Android phone should at least download the .apk from Molly.im. This version of the app is better suited for this.
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