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Signal Secure Backups

(signal.org)
988 points keyboardJones | 2 comments | 08 Sep 25 16:43 UTC | HN request time: 0.495s | source
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poisonborz ◴[08 Sep 25 17:34 UTC] No.45171210[source]▶
Backing up Signal on Android for free and offline was ~always possible. The app creates a multi GB backup file on the phone memory under the Signal folder that you can just copy out and back on a new phone.

The file is encrypted with the passcode and the database can be extracted.

https://github.com/bepaald/signalbackup-tools

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growse ◴[08 Sep 25 17:42 UTC] No.45171340[source]▶
Personally, I find that having orchestrate and regularly schedule the exporting of that file off my device to somewhere else, and then look after it there to be not "free".

The new offering is reasonably priced imo.

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1. _heimdall ◴[08 Sep 25 17:47 UTC] No.45171411[source]▶
Agreed. I prefer setting it up myself and have had Signal backing up to my home server for a few years now, but for most users an opt-in with a basic free tier and cheap enough paid plan makes a lot of sense.

Glad to see they're finding potential revenue streams that don't compromise their focus on privacy and security.

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2. dcow ◴[08 Sep 25 19:34 UTC] No.45172845[source]▶
They even say they’re committed to offering BYO storage as the feature matures