Signal is working on a standalone version of its desktop app that does not require a smartphone. Signal Desktop will also gain additional options when used as a linked device.
“To register on Signal Desktop, a phone number will still be required.”
Then this is just a whole lot of not much.
Users have been asking Signal to allow accounts to be created without a phone number ever since it was released. I just want to use Signal with my kids who don’t have phone numbers, dude. Signal already have usernames and encrypted client-side contacts… What’s the holdup? Why insist a phone number is still required?
The new app design will still be necessary if that were to become a feature, so this is a halfway step either way.
One thing this lets people do is utilize burner numbers without a physical phone tied to it. They can use their provider’s web-based UI to receive text messages for the signal confirmation, but can then use the app solely from a desktop.
This also paves the way for an official command-line client, library or SDK that could be used for automation.
They will also likely require a captcha done using webview, exposing many hardware identifiers to Google.
They will once again claim this is to protect against spammers and not to track people.
Signal is obviously a honeypot, as it never would have taken this long to release a desktop App not linked to a phone if it weren’t a honeypot, and they still are requiring a phone number. Any “privacy” company that adopts real privacy features only after huge pushback from the privacy community years later is likely a honeypot. Look at “tuta,” which a former government worker testified under oath is a honeypot: no accepting of Monero ever. Finally, when called a honeypot, they make a deal with a third party to accept Monero.
Signal is probably releasing this because whoever owns the honeypot wants to link desktops to phone numbers, allowing the desktops to be hacked with something like Pegasus as well.
Does anyone remember that accidental LinkedIn post showing all the Apps that one company was able to hack? And it showed WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, etc… And it was always based on a phone? And this photo was accidentally posted online before being scrubbed? I forget the details on it and if anyone remembers, please post about it to jog my memory. Well, now perhaps that group wants to hack laptops too.
I don’t believe this is anything other than more bullshit. It wouldn’t surprise me if they also blocked VOIP for registration. Fuck Signal.
Then this is just a whole lot of not much.
Users have been asking Signal to allow accounts to be created without a phone number ever since it was released. I just want to use Signal with my kids who don’t have phone numbers, dude. Signal already have usernames and encrypted client-side contacts… What’s the holdup? Why insist a phone number is still required?
The new app design will still be necessary if that were to become a feature, so this is a halfway step either way.
One thing this lets people do is utilize burner numbers without a physical phone tied to it. They can use their provider’s web-based UI to receive text messages for the signal confirmation, but can then use the app solely from a desktop.
This also paves the way for an official command-line client, library or SDK that could be used for automation.
I just use SimpleX for kid stuff. No phone/numbers necessary, just uses random QR codes as the identifier, makes sharing and setup very easy.
Cause spamming will get a lot worse once you can just register accounts.
Require a $15 payment
They want to be able to link accounts to your identity, obviously
They will also likely require a captcha done using webview, exposing many hardware identifiers to Google.
They will once again claim this is to protect against spammers and not to track people.
Signal is obviously a honeypot, as it never would have taken this long to release a desktop App not linked to a phone if it weren’t a honeypot, and they still are requiring a phone number. Any “privacy” company that adopts real privacy features only after huge pushback from the privacy community years later is likely a honeypot. Look at “tuta,” which a former government worker testified under oath is a honeypot: no accepting of Monero ever. Finally, when called a honeypot, they make a deal with a third party to accept Monero.
Signal is probably releasing this because whoever owns the honeypot wants to link desktops to phone numbers, allowing the desktops to be hacked with something like Pegasus as well.
Does anyone remember that accidental LinkedIn post showing all the Apps that one company was able to hack? And it showed WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, etc… And it was always based on a phone? And this photo was accidentally posted online before being scrubbed? I forget the details on it and if anyone remembers, please post about it to jog my memory. Well, now perhaps that group wants to hack laptops too.
I don’t believe this is anything other than more bullshit. It wouldn’t surprise me if they also blocked VOIP for registration. Fuck Signal.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.