It's kind've hard to argue about having random unknown data laying around, but...
The insinuation that my device may be host to something potentially malicious is concerning. It gets a little worse that it can change, without notice. I'd tend to trust Signal and their security, but the potential for that mechanism to be hijacked is always present. They've certainly made it hard, though, and I think the folks at Signal are probably clever enough that my anemic observations don't tell the whole story.
Everyone can inspect the Signal app's source code, though, and make sure that nothing funny is happening with the "aesthetically pleasing" files it downloads.
> The insinuation that my device may be host to something potentially malicious is concerning. It gets a little worse that it can change, without notice.
Do you use an iPhone or a phone with Google Play Services on it?
Those both have the technical capability of receiving targeted updates.
Not just that. In the case of Google Play Services, SafetyNet also downloads random binary blobs from Google and executes them as root. Makes me feel a lot… safer about my phone.
>As they are still so keen on controlling encryption we can assume with good confidence that so far they have failed.
I think the real issue with relating their position on legislation to their ability to break any given algorithm (Or the problem on which it is based) is this: Legislation will survive a new, more secure algorithm. Breaking one algorithm is subject to being patched out or the algorithm being entirely replaced. A broken system is a short-term investment, legislation is long-term (With the assumption that the government enforcing the legislation sticks around).
The insinuation that my device may be host to something potentially malicious is concerning. It gets a little worse that it can change, without notice. I'd tend to trust Signal and their security, but the potential for that mechanism to be hijacked is always present. They've certainly made it hard, though, and I think the folks at Signal are probably clever enough that my anemic observations don't tell the whole story.