4 ms·

Thank god, this is not and never was the easiest explanation. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41382342 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41382342

by Ringz 2y ago

canadiantim 2y ago
If China was allowing Signal to operate within China, the most logical and simple explanation would have been that China had backdoor access. To you point though, it sounds like Signal is not actually allowed to operate in China so there's nothing to explain after all.
- ithkuil 2y ago
  "Not being able to operate" is not equal to "it won't work if you already have an account". As long as the average Chinese citizen cannot effectively create an account (because the activation SMS cannot reach their phones) the Chinese government may allow existing users of signal (who activated the account abroad) to communicate with signal.
  - b112 2y ago
    Signal may also be a "signal" that the state should look more closely at a person. With so few users, if the user is up to no good, as per the state's view, just knowing to watch them is helpful.
- Ringz 2y ago
  > If China was allowing Signal to operate within China, the most logical and simple explanation would have been that China had backdoor access. It still isn't the simplest explanation. The simplest one is probably that there were simply too few Signal users. The complete source code for the Signal applications and the Signal server is available on GitHub. This way, anyone can review the code for security and correctness. An existing backdoor would mean that every expert review of the source code in this field has been faulty. And the fact that I can set up my own Signal server and compile my own client supports Signal's claim of being a secure messenger. The possibility of manipulation through Apple and the App Store process remains. However, this is by no means the simplest solution.

4 ms·

Thank god, this is not and never was the easiest explanation. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41382342 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41382342

by Ringz 2y ago

Thank god, this is not and never was the easiest explanation. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41382342 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41382342

canadiantim 2y ago
If China was allowing Signal to operate within China, the most logical and simple explanation would have been that China had backdoor access. To you point though, it sounds like Signal is not actually allowed to operate in China so there's nothing to explain after all.
- ithkuil 2y ago
  "Not being able to operate" is not equal to "it won't work if you already have an account". As long as the average Chinese citizen cannot effectively create an account (because the activation SMS cannot reach their phones) the Chinese government may allow existing users of signal (who activated the account abroad) to communicate with signal.
  - b112 2y ago
    Signal may also be a "signal" that the state should look more closely at a person. With so few users, if the user is up to no good, as per the state's view, just knowing to watch them is helpful.
- Ringz 2y ago
  > If China was allowing Signal to operate within China, the most logical and simple explanation would have been that China had backdoor access. It still isn't the simplest explanation. The simplest one is probably that there were simply too few Signal users. The complete source code for the Signal applications and the Signal server is available on GitHub. This way, anyone can review the code for security and correctness. An existing backdoor would mean that every expert review of the source code in this field has been faulty. And the fact that I can set up my own Signal server and compile my own client supports Signal's claim of being a secure messenger. The possibility of manipulation through Apple and the App Store process remains. However, this is by no means the simplest solution.