Re:Signal is finally bringing its secure messaging to the ma...
by NikolaNovak on Saturday February 15, 2020 @08:27AM
(#22335153)
>>You're not supposed to be switching between devices like that.
That's the Apple "You're not supposed to use our device that way" approach, and again, while it works for a huge swath of users and I am completely cognizant I'm in a tiny contrarian minority, it still and nevertheless feels like a hostile user experience.
Note that "Switching devices like that" is ever so tiny a misnomer; I am "Using multiple devices" (not replacing my phones permanently etc, which I get is a more difficult scenario... and one that Whatsapp historically deals with in the most insecure fashion imaginable; until recently their FAQ held explanations that you may get somebody else's messages if you get their phone number; or that if you switch your own phone number you need to email support and wait; it really feels they focused on the E2E encryption, important to tiny proportion of their userbase, over any other security consideration; but again... I get I'm alone in this perception :)
That's the Apple "You're not supposed to use our device that way" approach, and again, while it works for a huge swath of users and I am completely cognizant I'm in a tiny contrarian minority, it still and nevertheless feels like a hostile user experience.
Note that "Switching devices like that" is ever so tiny a misnomer; I am "Using multiple devices" (not replacing my phones permanently etc, which I get is a more difficult scenario... and one that Whatsapp historically deals with in the most insecure fashion imaginable; until recently their FAQ held explanations that you may get somebody else's messages if you get their phone number; or that if you switch your own phone number you need to email support and wait; it really feels they focused on the E2E encryption, important to tiny proportion of their userbase, over any other security consideration; but again... I get I'm alone in this perception :)