I suspect the main issues people ‘in the wild’ have with signal involves ineffective use of the app. Do you check the ‘safety number’ with every user? Do you use disappearing messages? Does anyone have access to your phone, or other linked device?

Here’s what the interwebs say about Signal and Security:

Signal encryption key vulnerability being fixed on Mac (and less fully on Windows), July 12 2024 https://9to5mac.com/2024/07/12/signal-encryption-key-vulnerability/

https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/is-signal-safe-4129801

https://restoreprivacy.com/secure-encrypted-messaging-apps/signal/

This is particularly insidious, as they claim to use the same encryption as Signal, developed by Open Whisper Systems. But Meta allows themselves access. 2 billion users. SMH.

whatsapp is owned by Meta. I did a quick DDG search to see if I was correct and got this:

“Meta owns several companies, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Threads, Meta Quest, Horizon Worlds, Ray-Ban Stories, Mapillary, Workplace, and Portal (discontinued).”

I’ve been working to get the people I communicate with on Signal.app, instead. Other more informed individuals may be able to make additional suggestions.

Thank you, that’s most helpful. And no I won’t take your words blindly. Trust, and verify. :-) I’ll need to make sure my bank/ credit union is on with GNU Taler, tho’ it sounds unlikely, at this time.

FedNow looks very interesting.

Hellifiknow. I’m just some frog on the intarwebs who wants to learn. :-) Can someone elaborate on GNU Taler?

I’m annoyed by Paypal, Venmo (and other similar vehicles) because they use what should be a simple process (one person giving money to another person) to invade our privacy and to siphon value towards billionaires. I’d rather be able to transfer funds with the simplicity and precision of giving the person standing before me a ‘fiver’. And without someone else making bank off the transaction, for clarity’s sake.

KYC defined: “The Know Your Client (KYC) or Know Your Customer (KYC) is a process to verify the identity and other credentials of a financial services user. KYC is a regulatory process of ascertaining the identity and other information of a financial services user.” https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/wealth-management/know-your-client-kyc/

I like GNU Taler because it’s privacy preserving for the customer, is Free, Open Source, and is self hosted. And also because it’s not a new/ different currency.

I’ve seen Zelle recommended. And as it turns out my bank uses it, as well. From Alternativeto:

License Model: Free, Proprietary Platforms; Android, iPhone

Zelle® has partnered with leading banks and credit unions across the U.S. to bring you a fast, safe and easy way to send money to friends and family. Money moves quickly - directly from bank account to bank account.

No advertising on Craigslist, Government websites, Brennan Translations (https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/).

I looked up to see is my VPN is connected. It is. Good. Moving right along.

Ditto for me, as well. It’s just a matter of establishing those ‘niche’ communities on the Fediverse. The Fediverse has broken thru 10M users. We’re getting there. Onward!

I’ve often said that I wouldn’t mind corps skimming my data, IF they gave me a cut. But they don’t, and that’s why I’m on Lemmy, Pixelfed, support FOSS, use script blockers, and other methods to minimize my exposure to them, and yet still participate is this lovely intarweb we’ve created.

That’s an hilarious add-on. Like a google Geiger counter. Thanks for sharing it.

To which I say, No Gods No Masters!

same. Someone I know, this morning, said “oh I just got on threads”, and “everyone is there”, and worse “the only reason I know about it is because you told me.” The thing is, 1. Threads is a Meta project, 2. I told them about it in the context of this huge discussion on the fediverse about defedding from corporate social media, in which the VAST MAJORITY agree that federating with corp social media is bad plan. sigh.