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Is Signal messaging really private?
(lemmy.ml)
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this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2025
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Privacy
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All the signal fans here should give me your phone number if you think its a secure service. All of them are hosted on AWS btw.
You're equating giving my Mom my phone number with broadcasting my phone number on the Threadiverse?
Signal is a US-based entity subject to warrantless NSLs, with all the data hosted on AWS. Its not giving your phone number to your mom. Its giving your phone number to amazon and most likely a US surveillance government agency.
For a threat model you should assume the worst and never trust any US-domiciled data service or platform.
The government already has every US citizens number anyways.
So just give up and use signal then?
You're not going to convince me to use US-domiciled services.
Then just say you don't like the US, no reason to make up some bullshit about NSLs and AWS and phone numbers.
Do you really think they don't already have my/your phone #?
Since I don't use comms platforms they have jurisdiction over, I lessen the risk.
Lessen the risk of...finding out your phone #?
So what client would you recommend? I also feel like if it's offered on Google Play or Apple Store it's sus, but for lower income USians, it looks like Google Play is soon to become the forced option, especially on phones < $100.
Matrix, simpleX. Both have apps on f-droid, are federated, E2EE, and the servers are self-hostable anywhere in the world. Neither require phone numbers or identifiable info.
I'll see if my heavily locked down device will let me download/install the files. Thank you so much!
Give me your threat model so I can laugh. You have no idea of what being secure is. Thank you for being yet another troll.
"I bet the DHS, DOJ, FBI, CIA, and NSA are all competing to see who can recruit me or kill me before I graduate highschool"-ass threat model
Simple: I don't use any US-based service due to NSLs
I especially don't use any us-based service that asks for my phone number.
"My hobby is writing James Bond / Freakazoid erotic spy thriller fanfic"-ass threat model
Threat model: usa
It's a threat to 99% of people in the world
"I drew a dick on Pete Hegseth's face last time he was passed out drunk before Sunday service"-ass threat model
I don't use Signal to talk to people I know only pseudonymously through the internet. I use it to talk to people with whom I would already share my phone number. That social graph can be ascertained a thousand ways already. I think it is worth pointing out as you do, however. If I wanted to attempt to hide the fact that I was contacting someone from the state, I'm not sure where I would start, but it wouldn't be Signal.