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Crypto community question - why is everybody so adamant about using Signal? Outside of work, I don't own a smart phone and refuse to, so signal is not an option

by bpchaps 10y ago

Crypto community question - why is everybody so adamant about using Signal? Outside of work, I don't own a smart phone and refuse to, so signal is not an option. It's to the point where it's actually gotten in the way with getting in contact with at least three people I know.

crooked-v 10y ago
> why is everybody so adamant about using Signal? Because it's convenient, secure, open-source, and well-designed. > Outside of work, I don't own a smart phone and refuse to That makes you, in the eyes of most people, a weird outlier.
- nawtacawp 10y ago
  Not so weird. I also have a smart phone for work -- so i don't have a personal one.
  - bpchaps 10y ago
    Parent poster is probably talking about the fact that I willfully use a dumb phone. Though, I'm honestly not sure how a perception of being 'weird' is really relevant.
- bpchaps 10y ago
  I dunno, it just feels that the crypto community is shooting itself in the foot by largely catering to those with smart phones. A huge chunk of population, (poor, elderly, etc) are in a similar boat as I am and it doesn't make much sense. Many of the civics/activist/crypto folk seem to only want to make flashy toys to prove their worth rather than tackling problems in solid ways :\.
  - snthd 10y ago
    What do you propose instead? Software for dumb phones? Meshes using SDR devices?
    - bpchaps 10y ago
      No - simply something that doesn't require specific hardware or a specific browser to run. Note that I'm not commenting on the lack of alternatives - just the current culture. It all feels very backwards.
  - mi100hael 10y ago
    I'm not aware of any "solid way" of reliably transmitting encrypted messages of any useful length within the 160 characters allowed in a single SMS message, let alone installing a usable method of encrypting the messages.
    - bpchaps 10y ago
      That's not really what I'm asking about, though. It just feels like those who truly need to use something like Signal are shooting themselves in the foot by requiring others to have a smart phone. This has affected my ability to communicate with two separate journalists, so I'm not just spouting just to spout..
      - cyphar 10y ago
        You can use Signal on android.
tdkl 10y ago
Give Wire messenger a go, you don't need a phone number for it.

by bpchaps 10y ago

crooked-v 10y ago

> why is everybody so adamant about using Signal? Because it's convenient, secure, open-source, and well-designed. > Outside of work, I don't own a smart phone and refuse to That makes you, in the eyes of most people, a weird outlier.

nawtacawp 10y ago
Not so weird. I also have a smart phone for work -- so i don't have a personal one.
- bpchaps 10y ago
  Parent poster is probably talking about the fact that I willfully use a dumb phone. Though, I'm honestly not sure how a perception of being 'weird' is really relevant.
bpchaps 10y ago
I dunno, it just feels that the crypto community is shooting itself in the foot by largely catering to those with smart phones. A huge chunk of population, (poor, elderly, etc) are in a similar boat as I am and it doesn't make much sense. Many of the civics/activist/crypto folk seem to only want to make flashy toys to prove their worth rather than tackling problems in solid ways :\.
- snthd 10y ago
  What do you propose instead? Software for dumb phones? Meshes using SDR devices?
  - bpchaps 10y ago
    No - simply something that doesn't require specific hardware or a specific browser to run. Note that I'm not commenting on the lack of alternatives - just the current culture. It all feels very backwards.
- mi100hael 10y ago
  I'm not aware of any "solid way" of reliably transmitting encrypted messages of any useful length within the 160 characters allowed in a single SMS message, let alone installing a usable method of encrypting the messages.
  - bpchaps 10y ago
    That's not really what I'm asking about, though. It just feels like those who truly need to use something like Signal are shooting themselves in the foot by requiring others to have a smart phone. This has affected my ability to communicate with two separate journalists, so I'm not just spouting just to spout..
    - cyphar 10y ago
      You can use Signal on android.

tdkl 10y ago

Give Wire messenger a go, you don't need a phone number for it.