PSA: We've received questions about push notifications. First: push notifications for Signal NEVER contain sensitive unencrypted data & do not reveal the contents of any Signal messages or calls–not to Apple, not to Google, not to anyone but you & the people you're talking to. 1/
In Signal, push notifications simply act as a ping that tells the app to wake up. They don't reveal who sent the message or who is calling (not to Apple, Google, or anyone). Notifications are processed entirely on your device. This is different from many other apps. 2/
What's the background here? Currently, in order to enable push notifications on the dominant mobile operating systems (iOS and Android) those building and maintaining apps like Signal need to use services offered by Apple and Google. 3/
Apple simply doesn’t let you do it another way. And Google, well you could (and we've tried), but the cost to battery life is devastating for performance, rendering this a false option if you want to build a usable, practical, dependable app for people all over the world.* 4/
So, while we do not love Big Tech choke points and the control that a handful of companies wield over the tech ecosystem, we do everything we can to ensure that in spite of this dynamic, if you use Signal your privacy is preserved. 5/
*(Note, if you are among the small number of people that run alt Android-based operating systems that don't include Google libraries, we implement the battery-destroying push option, and hope you have ways to navigate.) 6/
@mer__edith no it's not, all my android Pounce Keys Keyloggers snag the full notification in plain text just fine from #signal and its not encrypted sent to google, also depending on your car; Signal messages can be read in the dash and read by car maker employees...2
@NullPounce this is either a lie or a drastic misunderstanding ❤️
@mer__edith I really hope Signal does not use Google Firebase. I have used this in Android apps.I have developed and have seen the Firebase console. Integrating Firebase means google records every keystroke and click. It is all right there in the console.
@mer__edith i have zero background in mobile development, but would Signal not be more free of apple/google restrictions if it was on the web instead? as a PWA
@mer__edith @signalapp Thanks for clarifying this
@mer__edith @signalapp Appreciate the update and explanation.
@mer__edith @signalapp Could we get an option for removing All notifications for the reactions to messages? for the people who think of it as spam and not a helping way to communicate. x)
@mer__edith OK, but it’s presence and IP info that notifications are leaking…
@mer__edith Appreciate the update 👍
@mer__edith 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
@mer__edith Thank you, Madam President