Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

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If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
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I got a new job. whatsapp group (20 people) is migrating to signal because I don't use it. (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

170 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I understand that it may be problematic sometimes but this was very smooth. I didn't even say anything.

A: what's your number for the whatsapp group Me: I don't have whatsapp because of facebook. B: ok, we have to use signal then A: ok

And that was it. Life can be very easy sometimes

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[+] [email protected] -26 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Signal is so bloated compared to Conversations on Android. Also it's a walled garden requiring your ph number to register (edit: and requires owning a smart phone👎). Based in the US so not great for privacy. Marginally better than Whatsapp suppose.

Edit: and it requires a smart phone.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

Signal app size 165MB. Conversations: 42MB.

I can't message someone on Signal without installing Signal or Molly which also uses Signal servers, which has to be trusted on good faith (can't run my own). Ergo a walled garden just like Whatsapp.

I can't register with just a username & password. I have to trust their PR saying they don't store my ph #.

US has some of the worst legislation when it comes to privacy; when the agencies decide they want your data, Signal will not be allowed to tell you. And don't give me the bs line that they only store 3 pieces of info about you. Unless you've built their server software you don't know what they collect am store.

[–] threeganzi 1 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Not that I will convince you to use signal, but there are desktop versions as well, so technically not required to use a smart phone.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That requires a phone ...

[–] threeganzi 2 points 3 months ago

Yes

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I use Signal. It's the in thing in my circles.

The desktop version cannot be used independently; you still need to make and maintain an account on a smart phone. Also the desktop version uses crazy memory. It's a pos. I no longer use it. Also you're limited to 2 devices: one phone & one comp. I sync my xmpp chats between 3 or 4, depending.

[–] howlingecko 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Signal works across more than two devices.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Pray, how do I login to the same account on my second phone? Or do you mean you can link multiple computers to the account on your phone? In which case, I'm not running that on my old laptop.

Edit: I'll answer my own question:

Multiple mobile devices ... are not currently supported.

https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007320551-Linked-Devices

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Well, that's news to me.