Signal to Ditch SMS/MMS Messaging on Android

[upnorth]

Content source

https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/signal-to-ditch-sms-mms-messaging-on-android

Private messaging app Signal plans to discontinue the ability for Android users to send and receive plaintext SMS and MMS messages with the Signal app. The app developer cited its priority of providing security and privacy to users for the decision — as well as protecting users from surprise messaging bills from their mobile providers and providing an overall more streamlined and clear user experience.

"The most important reason for us to remove SMS support from Android is that plaintext SMS messages are inherently insecure. They leak sensitive metadata and place your data in the hands of telecommunications companies. With privacy and security at the heart of what we do, letting a deeply insecure messaging protocol have a place in the Signal interface is inconsistent with our values and with what people expect when they open Signal," the mobile messaging app provider wrote in a post late last week.

Signal to Ditch SMS/MMS Messaging on Android

Main driver for the change: "Plaintext SMS messages are inherently insecure."

www.darkreading.com

 

[SpiderWeb]

So Apple iMessage wins. It's the only one with true end-to-end encryption and SMS fallback for compatibility. Nobody is going to lock themselves into the Signal ecosystem. If Apple was more competent they would use this opportunity to advertise for iMessage.

 

[Pixelman]

Stories are now available on Signal for Android and iOS, with Desktop coming soon!

Story Time

If your favorite way to update your friends about life disappears in 24 hours, we’ve got some happy news for you. Stories are now available on Signal for Android and iOS, with Desktop coming soon!

signal.org