by tracyhenry on 1/15/21, 7:01 PM
"many of them use Signal" - where is this conclusion come from? They have WeChat. I've never seen any of my Chinese friends using Signal.
by solarkraft on 1/15/21, 7:01 PM
I'll file this under "security tips". Signal should probably give its users tips for communicating securely - but that's at least one degree separate from "warn users about insecure IMEs".
Additionally, if you're already using a chinese phone, why does it matter whether your IME is compromised? Doesn't the CCP already have its nose in all of the manufacturers' OSes already? Maybe Signal should warn about that as well.
I'm all for helping people communicate securely, something Signal should be very interested in, but the hyper focus on IMEs is confusing.
by wodenokoto on 1/15/21, 7:17 PM
by darkwizard42 on 1/15/21, 6:08 PM
I'm not sure the headline reflects the discussion issue...It is anecdotal on how many Chinese users are using Signal, but the concern is that so many use third-party keyboards it could be compromising the secure nature of Signal (and the discussion is advocating for users to be made aware of the risks of using third party keyboards with Signal)
by chickenpotpie on 1/15/21, 6:36 PM
I remember a few days ago there was a post on hackernews to stop being mean to the people that worked at signal. The Twitter user linked in that article is railing into signal devs and she calls them assholes that don’t care about what happens outside of western society.
https://twitter.com/RealSexyCyborg/status/119769537620088012...
by ProAm on 1/15/21, 5:59 PM
I thought Signal came out with their own keyboard and I was excited.
by NikolaeVarius on 1/15/21, 6:26 PM
How does Signal work in the context of the Great Firewall?
Can china shut down Signal by banning traffic that seems like Signal communication??
by wffurr on 1/15/21, 7:01 PM
I wouldn't expect the first party keyboard on a Chinese-manufactured phone to be any safer than a third party IME.
by powerapple on 1/15/21, 7:05 PM
I would say I would be surprised if many>1% of the people. I have yet to know a single Chinese ever mentioned Signal.
by mam2 on 1/15/21, 5:48 PM
Im confused .. people are debating wether it's good to track what keyboard people use but instead of tracking which keyboard peoeple use, would it be not simpler for signal to basically build their own integrated keyboard and deactivate the android default one ?
by bloody-crow on 1/16/21, 4:54 AM
Why a keyboard application code even needs access to the internet? Could the OS just not allow it in the first place? I honestly don't fully understand why it's a Signal's problem in any way.
by bigpumpkin on 1/15/21, 6:01 PM
Obviously due to the fact that Chinese input could be better optimized by third parties.
by einpoklum on 1/15/21, 7:40 PM
But are Microsoft or Google's keyboard apps actually secure? That is, is it certain that they don't log keys or phone home somehow?
by 0xquad on 1/15/21, 10:20 PM
Net net: what IME is best for a mainland Chinese user of Signal?