Encrypted text messaging

[Jason]

If you care about privacy, you should probably be encrypting your SMS communications, too (text messages). Here's a slideshow showing various apps that do this. I'm trying out Signal right now. Of course, you only get the benefit of encryption if both recipients use it. It looks like the EFF recommends Signal or WhatsApp in its Surveillance Self-Defense Tool Guides.

[ssfc72]

Good to know, thanks Jason!

I pretty much use the TextPlus app (uses the cellular Data service) to send text messages instead of  the PCMobile (pay as you go) SMS texting service, since it costs a bit for each outgoing text, that I send.

I guess these encrypted text messaging Apps probably are only for SMS texting?

[Jason]

I can't speak to all the apps since I haven't used them.

The website for Signal says it is a way around having to pay for SMS/MMS messages, too. It uses your existing phone number though, unlike TextPlus.

Not sure if this means if you can still send/receive a text without a connection so I just sent you a text to your textplus number to see if it works and it looks like you received it since I just saw your reply! Yay. So it will work without a wifi/data connection but it will use it if you have it. And you'll have the upside of the protection of encryption, at least with me :-) I assume this means you have let Signal become the default app for texting, too.

Btw, Signal is also completely Open Source.

[ssfc72]

Oh, ok good to know.  I just assumed the apps used the SMS cellular servicice, exclusively.

The website for Signal says it is a way around having to pay for SMS/MMS messages, too. It uses your existing phone number though, unlike TextPlus. read the text

Not sure if this means if you can still send/receive a text without a connection so I just sent you a text to your textxtplus number to see if it works and it looks like you received it since I just saw your reply! Yay. So it will work without a wifi/data connection but it will use it if you have it. And you'll have the upside of the protection of encryption, at least with me :-) I assume this means you have let Signal become the default app for texting, too.

Btw, Signal is also completely Open Source.

I don't have Signal on my phone, so if you send me the text message, encrypted, I don't know how I was able to read the text???

[Jason]

Both users have to have Signal or the message is sent in plaintext.