Signal Messaging App Mysteriously Stops Working in China, Website Also Inaccessible

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Encrypted messaging app Signal appeared to no longer be working in China without the use of a virtual private network (VPN) on Tuesday morning, users in the country said. China’s cyber authorities have become increasingly strict in recent years, widening the scope of apps, media outlets and social media sites banned in the country.

Signal‘s website was also inaccessible in China on Tuesday morning. The app was still available on Apple’s China app store as of Tuesday morning, and the app and website appeared to be working normally in Hong Kong. Signal’s press team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

ALSO READ: Signal Is Testing a Feature That Will Make It Easier to Migrate Account to New Device

The Cyberspace Administration of China could not immediately be reached for comment. The app was already unavailable on third-party Android stores in China, where Google services are largely blocked. On several occasions the app had previously stopped working in China without VPN with no reason given, only for usage to resume.

Signal saw a surge in downloads worldwide after January 6 when WhatsApp updated its privacy terms, reserving the right to share user data, including location and phone number, with its parent Facebook and units such as Instagram and Messenger. Signal had been downloaded close to 510,000 times on iOS in China, and has been downloaded 100 million times worldwide on the App Store and Google Play combined, according to data company Sensor Tower.

Tencent’s all-in-one mobile app WeChat is China’s dominant messaging app, with its payment functions and other services, boasts more than a billion users globally.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

What Is SAI? The Indian Army Messaging App Said to Go Into Function Starting April 1

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


Secure Application for Internet or SAI, is a messaging platform for the Indian Army, developed by the Indian Army. The Indian Army is said to be starting the usage of SAI starting April 1, according to reports. The indegenous app, that supports end-to-end voice, text, and video calling services is similar to commercially available messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and the recently-launched Sandes.

The Ministry of Defence announced SAI back in October 2020, and said that the Android app scored over on security features with local in-house servers and codes, which can be tweaked as per requirements. The app has been vetter by CERT-in empaneled auditor and the Army Cyber Group, and is currently in the process for filing Intellectual Property Rights hosting infrastructure on the NIC. The app is also under development for iOS and will be utilised by the Indian Army to facilitate secure messaging within the service.

SAI has been developed by Col Sai Shankar and is undergoing the process of getting cyber and security clearance and data testing. SAI is said to be an alternative to WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal.

In July, after the Centre banned 59 Chinese apps, officers of the Indian Army were instructed to remove 89 apps from their mobiles including apps like Daily Hunt, Tinder, Facebook, TikTok, Zoom, and PUBG, which was later banned in September 2020. Last year, the Indian Army also instructed its soldiers to steer clear of WhatsApp for official usage. Even carrying smartphones on bases and dockyars has also been prohibited by the Indian Armed forces.



[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE