I’ve been instructing LGBTQ acquaintances to use encrypted messaging services like signal and to get a VPN that doesn’t log like mullvad and that your phone company can track your location without gps on but you should still turn off gps/bt/WiFi/mobile data when you’re not using them.
That’s good advice, though I may have heard concerning stuff about Signal recently? Maybe not, kinda hard to keep up with everything.
By and large though I think it’s wise for folks who could end up targets to do what you’re saying, and to get safe communications operational at a minimum, now, while it’s still easy to do.
I have some skepticism about whether the worst will come to pass, but it’s wise to prepare in ways like this.
I have some skepticism about whether the worst will come to pass.
Homosexuality has been illegal in the not too distant past as has “sodomy”
I thought I also saw something about signal being an issue as well but I didn’t remember what the problem was. They did recently introduce usernames and the ability to keep your phone number secret. You still have to use a phone number to create an account. It’s also the app that is targeted the most by nation-states trying to decrypt it. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that it has been decrypted but they wouldn’t use that to go after the average person and only use it to spy on other countries.
Thanks for the info on Signal. I’m under no illusions about the severity of our situation, truly. I know our history, and I know the history of fascism elsewhere. And I see what’s happening in front of us.
I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that it has been decrypted
I don’t think we need this sort of fear-mongering. Signal’s encryption is fully open source, it has been vetted by cryptographers far more experienced with this stuff than you or I. They even introduced, a few years back, an encryption algorithm that’s future-proof against quantum computing.
All you are doing is potentially pushing people away from one of the few known-safe options. That’s the opposite of helpful.
Disagree, the most vulnerable who can’t leave need our help. Stay.
I’ve been instructing LGBTQ acquaintances to use encrypted messaging services like signal and to get a VPN that doesn’t log like mullvad and that your phone company can track your location without gps on but you should still turn off gps/bt/WiFi/mobile data when you’re not using them.
That’s good advice, though I may have heard concerning stuff about Signal recently? Maybe not, kinda hard to keep up with everything.
By and large though I think it’s wise for folks who could end up targets to do what you’re saying, and to get safe communications operational at a minimum, now, while it’s still easy to do.
I have some skepticism about whether the worst will come to pass, but it’s wise to prepare in ways like this.
Every time people find a supposed security flaws with signal it turns out to be nothing, so signal is probably fine.
Good enough for me, and ultimately “good enough” is about as good as anything is gonna get.
saving this
I just mean the literal very worst. I’m not downplaying the situation.
Homosexuality has been illegal in the not too distant past as has “sodomy”
I thought I also saw something about signal being an issue as well but I didn’t remember what the problem was. They did recently introduce usernames and the ability to keep your phone number secret. You still have to use a phone number to create an account. It’s also the app that is targeted the most by nation-states trying to decrypt it. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that it has been decrypted but they wouldn’t use that to go after the average person and only use it to spy on other countries.
Thanks for the info on Signal. I’m under no illusions about the severity of our situation, truly. I know our history, and I know the history of fascism elsewhere. And I see what’s happening in front of us.
I don’t think we need this sort of fear-mongering. Signal’s encryption is fully open source, it has been vetted by cryptographers far more experienced with this stuff than you or I. They even introduced, a few years back, an encryption algorithm that’s future-proof against quantum computing.
All you are doing is potentially pushing people away from one of the few known-safe options. That’s the opposite of helpful.