quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
So it is free and occasionally ask for donations?

What is your point? You do realize how the web, server, and and software development works? You seem to suggest nefarious aspects in your posts but never follow up.

In this instance, I think the man was simply asking an honest question.

I prefer Signal too for the reasons already stated. Unfortunately, I can't get all of my family to switch from messenger.

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:
I prefer Signal too for the reasons already stated. Unfortunately, I can't get all of my family to switch from messenger.

This is the first I've heard of it, and will definitely look into it. Most all of my instant messaging to anyone I know has been via direct text from my iPhone, or via Messenger. I've never sent anything that I really felt needed to be kept "Private", so in that vein, do I really need to use Signal? Is there a valid reason to do so under my current usage limits?

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
In this instance, I think the man was simply asking an honest question.

Exactly,

I do not know what you mean bytes. Just an honest question.
Sorry you did not understand.
And no I do not profess a lot about server, software development, etc. either.

The topic Para raised is of interest to me and know little about it.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:

So it is free and occasionally ask for donations?

Yup. There is a fair amount of good software available from various sources, where the developer does not impose a fixed charge, but does accept donations to fund it.

Visualize something like SIGforum, if you will, working in a mode where there is no charge made for membership, but the owner would accept voluntary donations to help underwrite the cost of maintaining the server(s), paying his internet provider for the bandwidth, etc. Similar concept.

Question: but I suspect the answer is obvious but I want to confirm: to use signals, both parties need to have signals installed, right?

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
So it is free and occasionally ask for donations?

i want to say one or two times per year.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
I do not know what you mean bytes. Just an honest question.
Sorry you did not understand.
And no I do not profess a lot about server, software development, etc. either.

The topic Para raised is of interest to me and know little about it.

My bad Cross, I was reading sarcasm when none was intended on your part. My apologies.

This is something I need to research more. Thanks for the video and heads up.

It’s a shame BlackBerry never figured out a way to market their Messenger and expand it to include calls.

Thanks for that big graphic ensigmatic. It was very helpful.

I’ll stick with iMessage for the time being. Most of my family and many of my friends have it.

And my financial guy too – the only one of my contacts with a significant security concern. At least, so far.

ETA – Decided to get Signal for my iPhone after all. It’s free, and looks like no hassle. And it probably annoys the Feds. Thanks, Para and ensigmatic.

quote:

Originally posted by sig226fan:
I just heard about the phone and apps developed by Eric Prince (of Blackwater fame).

There was a thread about it here not long back. Rather than repeat the points that were raised there, I suggest you look it up. Bottom line: I wouldn't hold my breath.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
Ensigmatic, I don't use any "chat" services on my desktop but do have Express VPN. I do do texting with my family on my phone and maybe a business item or two.
...
Do I need Signal or equivalent?

Need? I don't know about need, per se. If there's nothing in your text messaging or phone calls (voice or video) that you care about anybody else ever seeing: Probably not.

I'm obliged to occasionally pass sensitive info. Email, unless you go with encryption, which can be a tricky proposition, is out. With something like SPM I have a convenient tool with which to do so.

Then there's the "if you can message securely, you should, just as a matter-of-course" philosophy. A philosophy to which I subscribe.

SPM does more than just texting, btw. It also supports voice and video calling.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
So it is free and occasionally ask for donations?

Yes: Signal Private Messenger is free and they do occasionally ask if you'd care to donate.

I donate to Open Whisper Systems (the makers of Signal) annually, just as I do Let's Encrypt, which provides free SSL certs to web sites, mail servers, etc. all over the world. (I'm pretty sure SIGforum is using LE certs.)

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
Question: but I suspect the answer is obvious but I want to confirm: to use signals, both parties need to have signals installed, right?

Signal, singular. Yes.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Thanks for that big graphic ensigmatic. It was very helpful.

You're welcome. Again: Sorry it's so large.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I’ll stick with iMessage for the time being. Most of my family and many of my friends have it.

iMessage is ok, but, it has always been plagued by wonky behavior. There've been persistent issues with it and SMS/MMS, which is how one texts with non-iThing users.

Here's another one that bit my iThing-using "adopted relatives" in the posterior: They couldn't get their iThings' text messaging to work on WiFi in their cabin up north. Long story short: I figured it out the next time I was up there. I don't know if it's the iThings' network stack or what, but, when you transition between networks (e.g.: between a cell network and a WiFi network, where it's one or the other, with no overlap), iMessage will utterly fail to work until something in the phone or with Apple's iMessage servers figures out your new network location.

SPM has no such problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
And my financial guy too – the only one of my contacts with a significant security concern. At least, so far.

If I was passing any sensitive information via text or voice I would use only Signal.

I would also verify the contact: How to Verify a Signal Contact's Identity (Using the Safety Number) and
Signal Private Messenger: How to Verify the Identity of a Contact You're Communicating With

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
ETA – Decided to get Signal for my iPhone after all.

Now convince your financial guy to do the same.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
It’s free, and looks like no hassle. And it probably annoys the Feds.

There is a line of thought that goes something like "The more stuff that's encrypted on the 'net, the harder it is for snoops to snoop any of it, so encrypt everything, whether it needs it or not."

Thanks Bytes, were good.

Thanks Vtail and Mark123, got it.

Rey HRH's question was also one I had.

Yes thanks E for the info. I am not sure what "singular" means in reference to the question Rey raised.

Is it possible to text with someone that has Signal and you don't?

If everyone you text with needs to have it installed that seems like a tall ask of friends and family, no?

Thanks guys.

quote:

Originally posted by bronicabill:

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:
I prefer Signal too for the reasons already stated. Unfortunately, I can't get all of my family to switch from messenger.

This is the first I've heard of it, and will definitely look into it. Most all of my instant messaging to anyone I know has been via direct text from my iPhone, or via Messenger. I've never sent anything that I really felt needed to be kept "Private", so in that vein, do I really need to use Signal? Is there a valid reason to do so under my current usage limits?

Privacy. It's nobody's business when or where you are leaving or on a vacation, purchases, work info, etc. IOW, common topics with your family. Accounts are hacked all the time.

IIRC, Signal only works with Signal as of last year. So, you'll need a second app for those who don't use it.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:There is a line of thought that goes something like "The more stuff that's encrypted on the 'net, the harder it is for snoops to snoop any of it, so encrypt everything, whether it needs it or not."

That’s funny. While there is very little that I do over a communication system that I could care if anyone read or published, my first thought was that even “No Such Agency” has finite resources and if absolutely everybody encrypted absolutely everything it would certainly make it more challenging for any bad actor to get at stuff they shouldn’t. Wouldn’t it be funny if a malfeasant spent thousands of dollars of man hours and compute cycles to decrypt, “Hey, love you Honey! Btw, can you pickup a quart of milk on your way home?”

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Yes thanks E for the info.

You're welcome.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
I am not sure what "singular" means in reference to the question Rey raised.

He twice referred to it as "signals," plural. I was just pointing out it's "Signal," not "Signals." That's all.

May seem nit-picky, except to someone that goes looking for "signals" and can only find "signal"

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Is it possible to text with someone that has Signal and you don't?

No.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
If everyone you text with needs to have it installed that seems like a tall ask of friends and family, no?

Yes, and, to promote use of the product it used to be Signal could be used in place of the regular messaging app on Android devices. It would simply do SMS/MMS when the other end wasn't using Signal.

They removed that functionality just a while ago, for three reasons:

• They felt it led to decreased security because it may not have always been immediately obvious to users when encrypted SPM was used end-to-end or when un-encrypted SMS/MMS was used.
  
• It led to a dichotomy between Android and iThings use, because SPM couldn't be used to replace the stock iMessage app on iThings.
  
• They felt SPM had obtained sufficient market penetration that they didn't need to support it as a one-stop, insecure messaging app anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:


Rey HRH's question was also one I had.


If everyone you text with needs to have it installed that seems like a tall ask of friends and family, no?

Thanks guys.

I suppose it's for people who are thinking ahead and who have a network of friends and families who can imagine situations and circumstances where encrypted messages would be good to have. I suppose your network can, over time, use it as the main tool for communications. But maybe it's better to reserve it for special purpose use, but that requires remembering your login passwords since you won't be using it too often.

I'm just thinking out loud.

I suppose if you're a member of an esoteric fringe group that will likely be targeted in the future like conservative religious white males, it might be nice to have a way to communicate with other members of your group.

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:
I prefer Signal too for the reasons already stated. Unfortunately, I can't get all of my family to switch from messenger.

Same. I’ve got a regular “family chat” thread… but only one side of the family uses it.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
<snip>
But maybe it's better to reserve it for special purpose use, but that requires remembering your login passwords since you won't be using it too often.
<snip>

A good password manager makes that easy. They also have a “Notes” field where you could record date and amount of donations, for example.