Originally Posted by psionic:
“Out of interest, what's to stop governments or others creating private messenger apps like this as honey traps?”
“Out of interest, what's to stop governments or others creating private messenger apps like this as honey traps?”
Nothing. But Signal's code (both client and server) is open source and available on Github, and their crypto protocol, Axolotl-Rachet has been looked at and praised by security experts, so i'm more confident about its security than other messaging apps (especially things like Viber, LINE and Telegram that don't encrypt by default and store your messages in the clear on the server, just one hack away from being spaffed all over the 'net).
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“This app seems largely pointless and very much hard work in getting all your contact to use it / a bit tin hat.”
“This app seems largely pointless and very much hard work in getting all your contact to use it / a bit tin hat.”
The difference between Signal and other messaging apps is that it's also a pretty good SMS app. So, on Android, you set it up to handle your SMS and just text your contacts as usual. Contacts without Signal installed will get normal SMS and those with Signal installed will get the message via the Internet. Think Apple's iMessage, but cross-platform, open source and open crypto.
In this way i can continue communicating with my contacts using a single app as i try and convince them to switch to, or at least install, Signal.
