according to AtlanticTop White House officials used end-to-end encrypted messaging app signals to discuss military strikes in Yemen ahead of these strikes on March 15. White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the news to achieve the information. ABC Newsthis revelation has attracted criticism from other people in the government.
“If true, these actions are a violation of laws and regulations that protect national security, including the safety of Americans acting in danger,” said Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. guardian. “These people know the catastrophic risk of transmitting confidential information in unclassified systems, and they also know that if the lower-level officials under their command described here, they could lose permission and be investigated for criminal investigation.”
But what is a signal, and government officials have used it before?
The app was released in 2014 a decade ago and as of 2022, more than 40 million people are using the app for encrypted messaging. BBC. The app became popular in January 2021 after WhatsApp, another encrypted messaging app owned by Facebook’s parent company Meta, Changed its privacy policy. After this change, people flock to signals, causing a surge in new users and Temporarily interrupted Apps.AppTracking Company’s Apptopia reports that the signal has been downloaded 1.3 million times A few days after the policy change.
If you are new to signaling or want to know about it, then you should know about encrypted messaging applications.
What is a signal?
signal is an open source, encrypted messaging application. It is available Android and ios Device, and can be downloaded and used for free. You can call others through the app voice or video, and you can send payments through the app using cryptocurrency Mobilecoin.
Is the signal safe?
Signal usage End-to-end encryption To protect your messages and calls, this means that only your intended recipient can read your messages and receive your calls. This way, third parties or government entities cannot intercept your information. But nothing is absolutely safe.
this Google Threat Intelligence Team February reported that Russia’s unanimous malicious actors targeted signal users. The team found that many malicious participants attempted to access signal accounts by abusing the app’s legality.Linked devices“By using the function of forgery QR codes.
“When scanning, [these QR codes] The group will write online. “If successful, future messages will be delivered in real time with the victim and threat actors, linking the victim’s account with the victim’s control signals.
However, the team said the latest version of the signal contains features to help protect people from similar attempts in the future, so make sure you update the app to the latest version for maximum protection.
But in 2023, Another group of researchers A method of finding out the location of a signal user by measuring the time between sending a message and receiving a message passing message. The overall accuracy of this method is about 82% and can be used to monitor someone’s location.
It is also important to note that the app won’t stop you from accidentally, including people in group chats or sending messages to the wrong person. If the app can block this, I’m sure there will be a lot fewer drunk text messages to the former partner.
Do my contacts need signals to make the application work?
Yes, you both need to use signals to make the application work. For example, you cannot use signals to message WhatsApp.
Will the signal send my phone number to others?
not necessarily. Unless you change the settings, the app will not send your phone number to others so others can see your number. Here is how to change this setting.
1. Turn on the signal.
2. Click on your profile in the upper left corner of the screen.
3. Tap settings.
4. Tap privacy.
5. Tap telephone number.
Below Who can see my phone numberYou can click Everyone or No one.
From this menu, you can also let anyone with your phone number see you on the signal or hide you on the app. Below Who can find me by numbertap Everyone or No one.
Should I use my real name or nickname for more privacy?
You can use your real name or nickname. Depending on the signal, your profile (name and photo attached to your number) is encrypted and because of the signal you don’t know which name or photo you selected.
“Your profile information is encrypted end-to-end with a unique profile key that is securely shared through the same signal protocol channels that have protected your conversations and calls,” he said. Signal writing online.
Remember that using photos and last names in your profile is optional. The signal says that a name is needed, but the name may be your name, nickname, a character or emoji.
Do government employees and officials use signals?
according to PBSgovernment officials have used signals to organize signals, such as scheduling sensitive meetings. A former national security official, who served in the Biden administration, said some in the administration have the right to download on phones issued by the White House but has been directed to use the app very rarely. The official said the app is primarily used to notify people of other ways to check for confidential messages sent.
However, signals can allow government officials to circumvent open records of legal and public information requests. There is no special archive software, and you can set the signal message to a certain time and delete yourself from the device, which can be considered as crime.
Can I use signals for work or travel?
Yes, yes. If you use Working signalsonly know that each phone must register a different number to work. If you are travelthe application uses the Internet to send messages and calls others. So, as long as you are connected to the internet, you can use the application instead of your own cell service and may incur roaming fees.
Can I signal or receive SMS/MMS messages?
no. Signals used to support SMS/MMS messages in their Android apps, but the feature has been removed 2022. The company wrote at the time that it was removing this feature to prioritize security and privacy to ensure people don’t encounter unexpected message bills and create and clear user experiences for all signal users.
What are security numbers and they are important?
Security number Being assigned to one-to-one chats in the signal, these chats allow you to verify the security of calls and messages through your contacts. Verifying a secure number is a great way to ensure who you are going to talk to. After verifying this number, you must manually approve the change of that number before sending another message.
The signal will let you know when someone changes the security number. According to Signal, this may just be someone using a new phone or reinstalling the signal, but if you see a lot of changes in the security number, there may be other issues.
This is how to view and verify security numbers.
1. Turn on the signal.
2. chat.
3. Click on the recipient name at the chat header or at the top of the chat.
4. Tap View security number.
Then, either scan your contact’s QR code, which is displayed on its screen or compare the sequence of numbers displayed under the QR code. If the sequence matches both on your and the contact’s phone, everyone can click Tags like verification At the bottom of the screen. If the sequences are different, it is wrong.
Signals store or sell my data?
“The signal is intended to never collect or store any sensitive information,” Signal writing online.
All your data is stored locally on your device, and since everything in the application is encrypted end-to-end, the signaling service cannot access that data. And because the signal cannot access the data, it cannot sell or monetize your data.
How do I request and download my account data?
1. Turn on the signal.
2. Click on your profile in the upper left corner of the screen.
3. Tap settings.
4. Tap account.
5. Tap your Account data.
You can export data as easy to read text files, export as TXT or readable machine-readable files as JSON. Click on which file you want to export the data, and then click Export Report.
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