Comment by BLKNSLVR
21 days ago
> can only be installed in one device at the same time
I neither like nor understand this restriction. It makes device failure / loss / theft a much more difficult experience to recover from than it would otherwise be. The device should be throwaway. I specifically keep old phones in case something happens to the new one.
WhatsApp is probably the stupidest example of only being able to be on a single device (but I'm forced to use WhatsApp for one specific purpose, so I already resent it). Signal does the same thing, so maybe it's related to the E2EE that WhatsApp licensed from Signal...
>WhatsApp is probably the stupidest example of only being able to be on a single device
that's not really an artificial limitation but a design choice. They don't store your messages, only deliver them. Once the message is on your device, it's gone from their servers, like old POP3 mail.
You think Meta would pass up an opportunity to harvest data from users?
I use the Signal fork Molly to get messages on multiple phones. One remains the primary and the others linked, but I get messages even if the primary is off.
> It makes device failure / loss / theft a much more difficult experience to recover from than it would otherwise be.
As is with all two factor, but don't point that out, or the "but muh security" bros will shout you down.
The authenticator app that I use for most 2FA can be on multiple devices, and you can export and import some or all of the entries, password protected.
I would be extremely F'd if my 2FA was able to be lost or stolen due to a single device limitation.