this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2025
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[–] [email protected] 48 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I saw the headline and was ready to rage about why they should just use signal instead. Then I read the article and honestly this is a fucking genius use of tech

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

I read it and don't understand. Why is this better than Signal? Or the 500 other secure file/messaging protocols?

Jabber seemed to work perfectly for Snowden...

[–] [email protected] 48 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Because analysing network traffic wouldn't allow an adversary to see what you're sending with Signal, but they could still tell you're sendig a secure message.

What the Guardian is doing is hiding that secure chat traffic inside the Guardian app, so packet sniffing would only show you're accessing news.

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

analysing network traffic wouldn't allow an adversary to see what you're sending with Signal

How are they analyzing network traffic with Signal? It's encrypted. And why does it matter if they know you're sending a message? Literally everyone using Signal is sending a message.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Timing of messages. They can't tell what you send, but can tell when

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

No they can't.

E: if someone wants to provide evidence to the contrary instead of just downvoting and moving on, please, go ahead.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (19 children)
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Here's a relevant stack exchange question. Regarding what an ISP can learn. Of note, everybody is ceding that the ISP can tell you're using signal, and they've moved on to whether or not they'd be able to fingerprint your usage patterns.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

How are they analyzing network traffic with Signal? It's encrypted

Not my specialty, but signals end to end encryption is akin to sealing a letter. Nobody but the sender and the recipient can open that letter.

But you still gotta send it through the mail. That's the network traffic analysis that can be used.

Here's an example of why that could be bad.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

For one, ease of access. Say you’re trying to break a story, who are you going to message with signal? Because you’re going to need to get that contact info somehow right?

Snowden is permanently stranded in Russia. That’s not exactly a great example of an anonymous source.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Say you’re trying to break a story, who are you going to message with signal?

...The Guardian?

Because you’re going to need to get that contact info somehow right?

Use your browser? These are strange questions.

Snowden is permanently stranded in Russia. That’s not exactly a great example of an anonymous source.

Did you notice that I used the past tense?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Messaging protocols already resemble the frameworks that come out from time to time. And their effectiveness is due to the fact that they require a certain quota of users.

It's just a secure messaging app with a direct line to Guardian journalists. How to use 911 or special numbers when you're not feeling well.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah this is insanely good