Comment by asylteltine
2 years ago
They need to dump sms entirely. Use on device private keys. If users mess it up, it’s on them. People need to get educated about how to manage private keys.
2 years ago
They need to dump sms entirely. Use on device private keys. If users mess it up, it’s on them. People need to get educated about how to manage private keys.
As someone technically savvy, I don't trust myself to manage my own private keys sufficiently for a service that's the point of contact for all my friends and family. I think it's a much taller order for someone without the technical knowhow – remember that Signal's audience includes very non-technical people who don't have time to learn the technical ins and outs but absolutely require its utility, like journalists and dissidents.
Then few will use it and Signal will die. There is this gap between the ideals of the technically-minded and the reality that users live in. They tried to dump SMS - and people responded by not using alternatives. The entire sales pitch of Signal is that it is easy and unobtrusive.