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Signal is the No. 1 downloaded app in the Netherlands. But why? (techcrunch.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (6 children)

Why? Because the Dutch national broadcasters keep plugging it as an alternative to Whatsapp.

Aside... Two apps keep getting mentioned as alternatives, Signal and Element/Matrix, but in MHRO both are not viable as replacements.

Signal: still a US app, CIA funded, provides their encryption backbone to Whatsapp, recommended by governments & FBI. Matrix/Element: Developed in Israel, with ties to IDF, preferred by NATO (NI2CE)

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

IDGAF who funds it or who develops it.

E2E encrypted
security review by independent party I trust which says there are no holes or bugs
open source

Those three things are all that matters.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Just FYI:

If you want to say "both are not", you can instead use "neither".

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

Yes you can, both are correct.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Signal is funded by the CIA now ? And I thought Element is in the UK?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Signal does seem to have some ties to the CIA

There seems to be a completely different Israeli company called matrix. I can't find any link between the two.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Maybe OP means that the Matrix protocol is created by an Israeli company.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

you’re spreading lies lies lies FUD

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Signal: still a US app, CIA funded

Honestly, this gives me more confidence in it. The CIA is very interested in keeping its people safe, so if they're using it, its in their interest to ensure it's secure. If they do put in a backdoor, I happen to be a US citizen so I'm unlikely to be a target since the CIA is all about surveillance on outsiders (FBI is domestic). FBI and Signal rarely agree, but they agree that Signal is great, so I think that's a pretty strong endorsement.

Add to that Edward Snowden recommends it, and he's certainly an enemy of both the CIA and the FBI at this point.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I happen to be a US citizen so I’m unlikely to be a target since the CIA is all about surveillance on outsiders (FBI is domestic)

All of that's off the table now with Trump in power. It's more than likely the CIA will be deployed against domestic targets.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I think that's unlikely, but even assuming it is, if spooks use a security/privacy tool, it's probably pretty good.