Region locked to USA so here's a screenshot.
Full Article
FBI warns users to encrypt text messages for cybersecurity. Here's how to do it
Sunshyne Lynch Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin
The FBI is warning phone users to encrypt their text messages, especially if you send messages between Apple and Android users.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a statement on Nov. 13 that hackers affiliated with People's Republic of China (PRC) were targeting "telecommunications infrastructure" in a "broad and significant cyber espionage campaign."
The hackers targeted "a limited number of individuals who are primarily involved in government or political activity," according to the statement, and stole "customer call records data" and "certain information that was subject to U.S. law enforcement requests pursuant to court orders."
Despite the FBI and CISA's continued investigation, cybersecurity officials have been unable to stop the hackers.
What text messages should be encrypted Because of the cyberattack, officials are warning smartphone users to use texting apps such as WhatsApp or Signal, as messages between Apple and Android users are not encrypted.
Messages between two Apple devices are safe, and messages between two Android devices are safe, but messages between an Apple device and and Android device are vulnerable.
Here are two text messaging apps that use end-to-end encryption. Once you've downloaded either of these apps to your smartphone, you can also link them to your desktop computers.
How to encrypt text messages with WhatsApp To ensure that messages between Apple and Android users are encrypted, you can use the text messaging app WhatsApp.
To download the app, Apple users should visit the App Store and Android users should visit the Google Play app, and download WhatsApp Messenger. The app is free to download and use.
Once you've downloaded the app, you'll need to accept the Terms and Conditions and allow the app to have certain permissions, like contacts and notifications.
Then, you'll need to select the country you live in and register a phone number you own. This phone number must be able to receive phone calls and text messages, so it cannot be a landline or toll-free number.
WhatsApp will then give you the option for a voice call or to text a code to the phone number you entered in order to verify the number.
Once the number is verified, you must put in the year you were born and your name and click "Done." After you've completed this step, you can begin texting and calling your contacts through WhatsApp.
To use this app, you must have Wi-Fi or cellular data.
How to encrypt text messages with Signal Signal is another encrypted text messaging app to ensure messages between Apple and Android users are protected.
To download the app, Apple users should visit the App Store and Android users should visit the Google Play app, and download Signal - Private Messenger. The app is free to download and use.
Once you've downloaded the app, you'll need to accept the Terms and Conditions and allow the app to have certain permissions, like contacts and notifications.
Like WhatsApp, you'll enter in a phone number that you own and is able to make calls and send and receive text messages.
Signal will text you a verification code that you'll need to enter into the app that verifies the phone number. After the number has been verified, you'll create a PIN that allows you to access your information and ensures your information is encrypted.
You'll then enter in your first and last name to create your Signal profile. After creating your profile, you can begin texting and calling through Signal. The app will show you the contacts in your phone that already have the app.
To use this app, you must have Wi-Fi or cellular data.
The FBI also doesn't want back doors... They just want a way for law enforcement to access any encrypted messages they want to.
https://www.thesslstore.com/blog/us-senator-calls-fbi-director-dumb-stance-encryption/
I'm actually really not concerned about foreign governments spying on me but I am bothered by my own government, the guys with the guns who can arrest me, doing it.
Tho I suspect if the government is recommending ways to avoid messages being intercepted, they've already cracked how to intercept them.
What's rich is the FBI promoting WhatsApp. Yeah, not a fucking chance.
Yeah we can all trust Meta, who never should have been allowed to purchase Whatsapp for antitrust reasons exactly like this. Whatsapp was innovative and very successful outside the US, rather than compete with their own decent product Facebook just absorbed them and gulped their users.
That is why Signal exists.
“Don’t let CHINA read your messages! Let Facebook!”
Messages between two Apple devices are safe, and messages between two Android devices are safe, but messages between an Apple device and and Android device are vulnerable.
This is not very accurate. Some Android devices come with Google Messages, which will use Google's encrypted version of RCS if the carrier supports it. People who don't know what all of that means should not assume their messages are encrypted.
Anyone know if Google Voice is encrypted? I can read copies of my texts online so I'm thinking no. I've felt like the service has outlived its usefulness for me and that would be the final straw.
I just sent a test message from my GV to my normal carrier number. It’s regular old SMS. No, not encrypted.
Session is very good and doesn’t require a phone number (like Signal).
Clunky for the average joe
In what way? I find it exactly the same as Signal but without needing to disclose my phone number (and therefore more anonymous). The user experience, imho, is the same.
Showed this information to my boomer mother who then asked my also tech illiterate step father what he thought.
"We don't send sensitive information through texts."
The ignorance almost physically hurts.. Thinking that only the actual message content is important.
Or ignoring the pictures we send and the private things I talk about with my mom.
Do I think that specifically my information would be useful to China? Likely not. But I also have no idea what all is possible with that kind of information in the aggregate.
At the very least, I assume they will use it to manipulate us even more with disinformation.
Technology
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related content.
- Be excellent to each other!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
- Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.