Protecting our privacy is more important now than ever. With this in mind, the following article highlights an interesting development in the world of messaging: the messaging app Signal and its unique approach to push notifications.
This technology stands in contrast to the pervasive data surveillance by secret services, an issue that was recently brought to public attention US Senator Ron Wyden
Push notifications from Signal without information
Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, emphasizes that her app handles notifications differently than usual. Notifications are simply sent to the device as a “ping” without revealing who sent or called the message. This is in stark contrast to traditional apps, whose notifications often contain a lot of data.
Technical challenges and solutions
However, Signal faces the technical challenge of having to use Apple and Google servers for push notifications. Whittaker explains that there is no alternative for iOS and that while it would be technically feasible for Android, it would result in impractical energy consumption.
Interestingly, for Android users who don't use Google software, Signal offers a notification option that works independently of Google's servers - but with the disadvantage of higher battery consumption.
Cost of privacy
Protecting privacy on Messenger isn't cheap. The foundation recently announced that the app's operating costs are around $1 million per week. On the one hand, this disclosure is intended to increase the willingness to donate, but on the other hand it also shows that other messengers that are not financed through donations or fees often cover their costs by exploiting user data.
Conclusion
Signal sets new standards in privacy protection with its innovative approach to push notifications, proving that it is possible to develop effective communication tools that simultaneously respect and protect user privacy.
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Source: heise.de
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