Signal is a secure communications app somewhat infamous for responding to FBI subpoenas for data by saying they don’t have it. The nonprofit that runs Signal set up a system that makes it impossible for them, or anyone else, to have any access to your conversations.
It’s a remarkable tool in our current age, where seemingly every app is built to spy on us. Secure as Signal is, however, it’s important to remember that your conversation is only truly private if Jeffery Goldberg, Editor of The Atlantic, isn’t part of your group chat.
This might sound obvious—no communication tool, no matter how secure, is private if you send a copy of everything you’re saying to a prominent journalist. It happens, though, so it’s a good idea to ensure it isn’t happening to you.
To get started open Signal and head to your group chat. Tap the name of the group chat at the top of the screen, then scroll down until you see the list of people in the group. Ensure that none of the people listed are Jeffery Goldberg, Editor of The Atlantic.
Ideally everyone in the thread should have a recognizable name, tied to a phone number or handle you’re familiar with. If there’s someone you don’t recognize consider messaging them directly, outside of the group text, and asking whether they are Jeffery Goldberg, Editor of The Atlantic. He will tell you if he is.
It’s also generally good practice to periodically ask your group chats whether Jeffery Goldberg, Editor of The Atlantic, is present, just to be sure. Do not worry if you feel odd asking this—it’s standard security practice.
To reiterate: no conversation is truly private if you include Jeffery Goldberg, Editor of The Atlantic. In general it is good advice not to include prominent journalists in conversations you would like to keep private. It’s true for your Dungeons and Dragons group, it’s true for the group text you use to shit talk your boss during Zoom meetings, and it’s true of any illegal group text used to discuss national security issues outside the proper channels.
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