this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2024
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Asklemmy
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Signal was developed with financial backing by the CIA, so do with that information what you will. I use Teleguard which is very similar to Telegram but run out of Switzerland, and with 2-way encryption automatically enabled, unlike signal or telegram.
Signal definitely has end to end encryption enabled by default
Yeah, but the response to that first part is "and?"
Open source, they've been audited, and there's no sign of anything hinky.
Also, thanks for the teleguard info. Any opinion about features and function for those of us that haven't run across it before?
I just installed teleguard because of this comment.
It's run by SwissCows, they claim it's fully encrypted with the latest/greatest tech, and comply with GDPR (and since they claim to not store user data, it's pretty simple).
It's simplistic in it's setup (not really a criticism, just a description/observation). This seems to be because (they claim) no data is stored on their servers (messages transit,and are deleted upon delivery).
If you want to use another device simultaneously, you have to backup one device, then restore it to the new device (backup requires a password). They'll then have the same history and will remain in sync, I think. So far I haven't gotten the restore to work because both devices must run the exact same version, and the Windows version isn't up to date.
I haven't found documentation on where the backup is stored, but I suspect the restore process pulls the backup from the first device.
Edit: Sync works, I'm just an idiot. When it says use your ID, they mean the code, not your Nickname. 🤦🏼♂️
It seems to work well, did some voice and video calls between phone and laptop, sent files, etc.
Not heard that one before about the cia but let's say for a moment that is true - Signal is open source so anyone can audit and work with the source code. Also anyone can set up an independent signal server and network.
And are you maybe confusing Signal with Tor and the CIA with the US Navy?
source?
https://www.opentech.fund/news/february-2018-monthly-report/
It’s not a secret. It’s on their website. Note: the Open Technology Fund is the CIA. Just like Radio Free Asia (or Radio Free X, they’re all CIA-run appendages of the US state department) which the fund grew out of. The US government very often funds technologies and startups that have the potential surveillance applications (among other things) and Signal was one of them. The people calling this a conspiracy theory have no idea what they are talking about, but that’s not uncommon when it comes to Americans and swallowing their own propaganda whole.
I looked up the Open Technology Fund on Wikipedia and it has no relation to the CIA. well, except that its parent agency (Radio Free Asia) is part of the US government like the CIA is. they don't seem to work together at all, and they're under the purview of two different branches of government
besides, as other commenters have said, they're open source and they've been audited. anyone can build the client themselves (with any potential backdoors removed) and set up their own server. would the CIA allow for that?
Realistically, how many people build applications themselves? ~~Signal does not have reproducible builds~~ (on Android at least) and depends on Play Services for notifications.
EDIT: Seems they have it now (since 2016). I am getting old.
His ass. This is a conspiracy theory that’s been going around for ages with dubious sources at best.
Do you have a source for the CIA backing claim? I can't find anything substantiated with a quick ddg search.