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Signal is just a company selling privacy (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/technology

80 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Signal is a centralized app, run by a company. If they are offered enough money or legal threat they will sell out or close.

I am sure people will make an argument that its FOSS and people will just fork it if it goes bad, but a new fork will have 0 users and Signal will still have all of your old contacts. Why not make a switch now? Before it is even more popular and you have more reasons to stay? Why fork it if there are already decentralized apps that use same encryption, like XMPP apps?

Sure you can find flaws in every app, including XMPP implementations, but if we will have to write code for a new Signal fork, why not just fix whatever is that bugs you in XMPP clients?

If you want to use Matrix, that is fine as well, we can always bridge the two open protocols. But you cant bridge Signal if their company doesn't allow it.

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[–] Devils69Advocate 19 points 1 year ago (9 children)

Signal doesn't store your contacts or messages; it's end to end encryption. What are you suggesting they'll "sell out" if offered enough money?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (8 children)

I was referring for them taking the bribe and letting the app die. At which point switching to another app will be unavoidable. It is better to make a switch now, then wait longer until possibly even more users depend on it.

[–] Devils69Advocate 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I suppose. You're still putting trust into something. To make sure they're doing the right thing and making the right decisions in regards to security and privacy, and that they wouldn't be pressured by a government or third-party to violate that.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We don't need trust in P2P networks. Companies are always trying to spread the idea that you always have to trust someone, so it might as well be them. Politicians do that too. P2P networks exist, so does direct democracies. Don't let them make you a pessimist.

[–] Devils69Advocate 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What are you talking about? I mean trust in the sense of doing the right thing from a security aspect. Maybe whoever is setting up the server isn't as adept with security and doesn't do all that is required.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

They don't need to be. I am talking about the security being in your hands, it is end to end encrypted and you can hide your IP behind tor, since unlike Signal, XMPP clients support use of Tor.

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