When someone sends a message to another WhatsApp user, their device creates a different session key for each device the receiver is using, thus telling the sender how many devices the receiver is using.
So like any other service using the Signal protocol, or am I wrong?
Well, I knew my brother was getting a new phone soon anyways so getting notified his device changed wasn’t a surprise. Otherwise, getting notified hia device changed without that knowledge may have triggered me to contact him elsewhere to ask if he did. Signal is mostly going to be conversations between close/trusted individuals. It doesn’t tell you what they changed to, the message basically tells you that if this person didn’t legitimately change devices then it might be a bad actor.
Oh, so it’s not like “person is on their computer” or “person is on their iPhone”? That’s what I was imagining and that can obviously be problematic, since some devices would be location bound, and you might not want someone to know your location. Also if it identifies your device, then it’s another avenue for bullying (apparently kids get bullied for not having iPhones) and some potential security risks.
So like any other service using the Signal protocol, or am I wrong?
I knew my brother got a new phone because signal told me their usual device had changed.
What are some good reasons for this? My initial thought is that it’s intrusive and violates a user’s privacy.
Well, I knew my brother was getting a new phone soon anyways so getting notified his device changed wasn’t a surprise. Otherwise, getting notified hia device changed without that knowledge may have triggered me to contact him elsewhere to ask if he did. Signal is mostly going to be conversations between close/trusted individuals. It doesn’t tell you what they changed to, the message basically tells you that if this person didn’t legitimately change devices then it might be a bad actor.
Oh, so it’s not like “person is on their computer” or “person is on their iPhone”? That’s what I was imagining and that can obviously be problematic, since some devices would be location bound, and you might not want someone to know your location. Also if it identifies your device, then it’s another avenue for bullying (apparently kids get bullied for not having iPhones) and some potential security risks.