Secure communication even with Smartphones?
Posted: 02 Dec 2015, 11:29
| As Edward Snowden revealed: The Free world was not all that free... The Smartphone metadata were gathered and stored. This has become illegal as of 11/29-2015 in the US thanks to Snowden. But the traffic still goes to the Telecom/ISP and they have to send you invoices etc so they have who you are calling and for how long you are talking - and also the content. . They are not supposed to reveal that information but as we have seen; some of them are extremely cooperative in NSA's words. This represents a huge challenge to the press who need to be able to protect their sources in order to fulfill their important task. In Norway the police/agencies can simply fill out a form and send it to an institution who decides in these matters So there is a need for encryption on Smartphones and it has to be easy. Now there is an app called Signal that will encrypt your communication. The EFF has made a secure messaging scorecard and Signal is on it with top score. The App is from Whispersystems and is reccomended by knowledgeable people like Edward Snowden  and Bruce Schneier. | Signal works on iOS and Android so all smartphones that count are covered and it is Open Source; both on the client side and on the server.  Now this is not a tool for absolute anonymity but it does take care of your communication what you write or say stays between you and the one you are communicating with. That would cover whistleblowers If your smartphone is somehow managed by your employer they will be able to detect that you have installed Signal though. In general it is not a good idea to use the Network of Employers or Organisations. They will not be able to see the content but can detect the signal traffic. Signal sends all communication as encrypted data packages (I wonder if our PGP mail keys can be used  )As I understand it Signal will be a phonebook where you can store your contacts that you need to communicate securely with The Norwegian broadcaster NRK gives the addresses of some journalists on Signal. Apparently you just send messages or call from within the App - sounds good to me!  So please test this people - and let me know. Me? I don't have a smartphone: I am not that stupid  (But I might consider one after you have tested this though ) |
It looks like you can even call for free across the globe!
Speak Freely - Make crystal-clear phone calls to people who live across town, or across the ocean, with no long-distance charges.
Stay Private - We cannot hear your conversations, and no one else can either. No exceptions.
Pay Nothing - The development team is supported by community donations and grants. There are no advertisements, and it doesn't cost anything to use.
In your face!; greedy, extremely cooperative Telecoms 
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