FBI warning iPhone and Android users to stop sending texts (1 Viewer)

[Andy Dufresne]

The articles are all pretty similar and none seem to tell you what to actually do about it. Does anyone know more?

Sounds like iMessage to iMessage and Google to Google is fine. But when you go from iMessage to Google or the reverse then it's unencrypted. They are also recommending people use WhatsApp.

FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Stop Sending Texts

U.S. officials urge citizens to use encrypted messaging and calls wherever they can—here’s what you need to know.

www.forbes.com

 

[Hawks64]

The articles are all pretty similar and none seem to tell you what to actually do about it. Does anyone know more?

Sounds like iMessage to iMessage and Google to Google is fine. But when you go from iMessage to Google or the reverse then it's unencrypted. They are also recommending people use WhatsApp.

FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Stop Sending Texts

U.S. officials urge citizens to use encrypted messaging and calls wherever they can—here’s what you need to know.

www.forbes.com

Yep, RCS Android to Android is encrypted and iMessage is encrypted. I much prefer Signal over WhatsApp but it's a good idea to use some type of encrypted solution for messaging (WhatsApp, Signal, Messenger, Telegram).

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The articles are all pretty similar and none seem to tell you what to actually do about it. Does anyone know more?

Sounds like iMessage to iMessage and Google to Google is fine. But when you go from iMessage to Google or the reverse then it's unencrypted. They are also recommending people use WhatsApp.

FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Stop Sending Texts

U.S. officials urge citizens to use encrypted messaging and calls wherever they can—here’s what you need to know.

www.forbes.com

Yep, RCS Android to Android is encrypted and iMessage is encrypted. I much prefer Signal over WhatsApp but it's a good idea to use some type of encrypted solution for messaging (WhatsApp, Signal, Messenger, Telegram).

Messenger like as in Meta's messenger? So people should just abandon using iMessage and Google Messages? Seems impractical.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I take it this just means don't send stuff like bank accounts or ssn over text, right? Like if I have an android and my wife has an iPhone I can still send her ;eggplant; ;lips; ;tidalwave; on my birthday, right?

Hypothetically, I mean.

 

[Hawks64]

The articles are all pretty similar and none seem to tell you what to actually do about it. Does anyone know more?

Sounds like iMessage to iMessage and Google to Google is fine. But when you go from iMessage to Google or the reverse then it's unencrypted. They are also recommending people use WhatsApp.

FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Stop Sending Texts

U.S. officials urge citizens to use encrypted messaging and calls wherever they can—here’s what you need to know.

www.forbes.com

Yep, RCS Android to Android is encrypted and iMessage is encrypted. I much prefer Signal over WhatsApp but it's a good idea to use some type of encrypted solution for messaging (WhatsApp, Signal, Messenger, Telegram).

Messenger like as in Meta's messenger? So people should just abandon using iMessage and Google Messages? Seems impractical.

Yep, it's now encrypted. And impractical or not, once you cross OSes it's not encrypted using text messages. If you want privacy then you need to use a 3rd party app or limit the cross OS text messages.

 

[fatness]

Dumb question: how do you know what type of phone you're sending a message to (Android or IPhone)?

 

[SWC]

holy smokes i hope the russians do download my messages it will blow up the kremlin trying to decipher what a brohan is and then its usa usa usa baby take that to the bank brochachos

 

[General Malaise]

Like....why would I need to worry if my text to my wife asking if she needs anything from the store is not encrypted?

 

[General Malaise]

I take it this just means don't send stuff like bank accounts or ssn over text, right? Like if I have an android and my wife has an iPhone I can still send her ;eggplant; ;lips; ;tidalwave; on my birthday, right?

Hypothetically, I mean.

Yeah, I'm with this guy. Although my eggplant to my wife is probably more of a question as to whether or not she needs me to get some from Trader Joes on my way home.

 

[Eephus]

The articles are all pretty similar and none seem to tell you what to actually do about it. Does anyone know more?

Sounds like iMessage to iMessage and Google to Google is fine. But when you go from iMessage to Google or the reverse then it's unencrypted. They are also recommending people use WhatsApp.

FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Stop Sending Texts

U.S. officials urge citizens to use encrypted messaging and calls wherever they can—here’s what you need to know.

www.forbes.com

K

 

[Sand]

So which backdoor, the FBI one or CIA one, is being exploited at the phone companies?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

So which backdoor, the FBI one or CIA one, is being exploited at the phone companies?

Haha, my first impression after reading the OP is that the FBI must have hacked WhatsApp.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

So it's pretty much like it always was - don't send personal or otherwise sensitive data in a text message.

Seems like another case of government just doing "something". "Everyone look busy!"

 

[Hawks64]

Dumb question: how do you know what type of phone you're sending a message to (Android or IPhone)?

Depends on where your messaging from. If it's an iPhone it will be green to a non iOS user. Not sure on Android.

 

[playin4beer]

So my family group chat with my wife and four daughters is in danger of being hacked? Me = Andriod Them = iPhone

Curious as to what the Russians would think of my daughter texting the group today that she plugged up the toilet at work so bad with a giant turd that it flooded the bathroom and breakroom and they had to call in a hazmat team to clean it up.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

So my family group chat with my wife and four daughters is in danger of being hacked? Me = Andriod Them = iPhone

Curious as to what the Russians would think of my daughter texting the group today that she plugged up the toilet at work so bad with a giant turd that it flooded the bathroom and breakroom and they had to call in a hazmat team to clean it up.

From what I understand, yes. As long as one line in the group chat is unique from the others then the chat is compromised.

The Russians would probably try to recruit your daughter for military service.

 

[Gatorade]

So my family group chat with my wife and four daughters is in danger of being hacked? Me = Andriod Them = iPhone

Curious as to what the Russians would think of my daughter texting the group today that she plugged up the toilet at work so bad with a giant turd that it flooded the bathroom and breakroom and they had to call in a hazmat team to clean it up.

 

[Hastur]

So my family group chat with my wife and four daughters is in danger of being hacked? Me = Andriod Them = iPhone

Curious as to what the Russians would think of my daughter texting the group today that she plugged up the toilet at work so bad with a giant turd that it flooded the bathroom and breakroom and they had to call in a hazmat team to clean it up.

:hideitintheceiling:?

 

[MTskibum]

The FBI was the reason the backdoor existed in the first place.

When they were the only ones hacking the text messages to spy on Americans without warrants they did not warn the public

 

[Sand]

So my family group chat with my wife and four daughters is in danger of being hacked? Me = Andriod Them = iPhone

Curious as to what the Russians would think of my daughter texting the group today that she plugged up the toilet at work so bad with a giant turd that it flooded the bathroom and breakroom and they had to call in a hazmat team to clean it up.

:hideitintheceiling:?

Where's Clyde when you need him?