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I'm deleting my signal if a way to back up my messages on MY terms (i.e. to a file) isn't implemented in two months. I'd rather give Facebook my messages than
by dannyw 6y ago
I'm deleting my signal if a way to back up my messages on MY terms (i.e. to a file) isn't implemented in two months.
I'd rather give Facebook my messages than lose it because Signal devs think users don't deserve to own their messages.
- sigg3 6y agoThat's interesting. In our data-mined world I've always found this a feature, and a refreshing one. I'm exposed to this feature/shortcoming quite often since I use the desktop version only intermittently. Observing that lost messages are lost _is reassuring to me_. On the infrequent event that I need a record, I'll usually just screenshot it then and there.
- pseudalopex 6y agoThe Android and desktop databases can be backed up. Just the iOS version blocks it.
- serial_dev 6y agoI think it depends on the content. With family photos, I'd rather have them public then lose them. For the public, it's likely not that interesting, but for me they are invaluable.
- andrepd 6y agoGood for you that that's your usecase! I myself would like to have a secure backup of all my messages and attachments.
- atat7024 6y agoWho wants permanent persistence as a feature of secure comms? Save messages or files that you find permanently important to store?
- atat7024 6y ago(You all could reply with your thoughts, as well)
- pseudalopex 6y agoIt should be obvious end to end encryption and ephemeral messages are for different threat models. And blocking iOS backup but allowing Android backup, desktop backup, and iOS history transfer is a really bad way to implement ephemeral messages. You assume someone will know what they'll want later when they receive it. Saving several messages together is tedious in most apps. So is organizing saved messages.
- scatters 6y agoYou don't know that a message is important at the time.
- WilTimSon 6y agoSometimes you forget or your own storage fails, so having a backup plan is good. Like another commenter said, to me it depends on what the info is. Although I suppose you can't quite "pick and choose" in these matters.
- etiam 6y agoBut the aim of Signal is default secure comms. It's supposed to easily wrap everything, from the absolutely banal to the fairly sensitive, in strong encryption in order to cut into the returns on performing mass surveillance. The question just comes down to who generally wants their communication contents persistent until actively destroyed, as opposed to quasi-randomly wiped out by technical snafus. If you want transient there are the time-limited messages, for instance...
- alerighi 6y agoEveryone that uses chats for serious business. I can't afford to loose conversations with my clients. For that I use only messaging systems that allow me to save chats: email, and then WhatsApp. Even Telegram has a problem, because even if messages are on the cloud, one could delete single messages or a whole conversation on your device as well. Regarding screenshots and saving messages: not only it's a thing that you have to remember doing, but screenshots have (at least in my country) no legal value, since everyone can easily produce them with Photoshop. You can say the same thing for WhatsApp messages, but sure it's more difficult (or at least it appears more difficult to a judge that doesn't know anything about IT). Basically screenshots are never accepted as a proof for something, WhatsApp messages on your phone are.
- nikanj 6y agoAnd screenshots are not searchable
- andrepd 6y agoI use signal to not be spied on by facebook or telegram or w/e. That is entirely orthogonal to having or not having backups.
- XorNot 6y agoAnyone who realizes that if it ever left your device, it has to be presumed to exist forever.
- Blahah 6y agoYes, they'll be so sorry to lose your custom. Remind me what they get from you?
- johnchristopher 6y agohttps://github.com/xeals/signal-back https://github.com/xeals/signal-back