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posted by janrinok on Thursday January 13 2022, @12:53PM   Printer-friendly
from the delegate++ dept.

Moxie Marlinspike leaves encrypted-messaging app Signal:

Moxie Marlinspike, the co-founder and chief executive of encrypted-messaging app Signal, has resigned.

He blogged it was a "good time to replace myself as CEO" after working on Signal for over a decade.

Signal recently enabled crypto-currency payments within the app, which has concerned some users. Mr Marlinspike remains a board member of the Signal Foundation, while the board's executive chair, Brian Acton, becomes interim chief executive.

[...] Mr Marlinspike - whose real name is Matthew Rosenfeld - blogged he had always hoped to reach a point where Signal could "grow and sustain" beyond his involvement.

"I was writing all the Android code, was writing all of the server code, was the only person on call for the service, was facilitating all product development, and was managing everyone," he wrote. "I couldn't ever leave cell service, had to take my laptop with me everywhere in case of emergencies, and occasionally found myself sitting alone on the sidewalk in the rain late at night trying to diagnose a service degradation."

More than 40 million people now use Signal.


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @01:05PM (16 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @01:05PM (#1212392)

    He is pretty much the only trustworthy person out there. Maybe I'd include Bruce Schneier as well. But at least he's leaving for his own reasons and not being pushed out because of some made-up garbage.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:08PM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:08PM (#1212451)

      I read he was the only one that pushed against deplatforming users because of their beliefs. I see censorship coming to Signal, time to move on.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:32PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:32PM (#1212466)

        Exactly. When you step down as the boss... you ain't the boss anymore. Uncharted waters lie ahead for the app with the change in leadership.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:46AM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:46AM (#1212557)

        I see censorship coming to Signal

        ...that's...not...how Signal works? Like, architecturally, they cannot. It's not designed to, in fact it's designed to be unable to, and can no more enable censorship than a Ford F150 can swim.

        Now, push a malicious update, and all cards are off the table. But you're not suggesting that. And Moxie isn't raising red flags as he leaves - which, as an anarchist, he would be more prone to. So you're just FUDding.

        My guess is you're some national asset, trying to convince people to move to weaker alternatives.

        • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Monday January 17 2022, @08:06AM

          by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Monday January 17 2022, @08:06AM (#1213354) Homepage
          Which bit of "I see censorship coming to Signal" do you think excludes malicious updates?
          --
          Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by quietus on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:21PM (11 children)

      by quietus (6328) on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:21PM (#1212457) Journal

      There is De Raadt and the OpenBSD team; and what about Linus and the core developers?

      • (Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:29PM (10 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:29PM (#1212464)

        Well, Linus did cave to the Kernel CoC and very publicly retreated for some self-examination as to how he could reform his offensive, non-PC speech that the CoCers demanded.

        When push came to shove... Linus went along. The money must've been just too good.

        • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @09:12PM (9 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @09:12PM (#1212523)

          Or he actually grew out of his adolescent haxorz mindset. It is always the same in burgeoning fields, the pioneers resent the average people invading "their" space. Sorry, but the Linux kernel is too big for someone to play the petty tyrant asshole, leave that to privately owned companies like Tesla and Apple. Even then the CEOs can get in hot water. I'm sure you're also one of the types that get mad when game servers ban you for using sexist or racist slurs. Cracks me up "do not be an over the top offensive asshole" is the height of tyranny. 1st world problems much? You able to hold down a job with dress codes and rules against sexual harassment?

          • (Score: 3, Insightful) by tangomargarine on Friday January 14 2022, @01:46AM (8 children)

            by tangomargarine (667) on Friday January 14 2022, @01:46AM (#1212567)

            play the petty tyrant asshole

            One man's "petty tyrant asshole" is another man's "refuses to let the SJWs derail the conversation and ruin the project."

            In order to get anything done in life, you usually have to be at least a little bit of an asshole from time to time. If you spend all your time sitting around talking about the feelings of those on the team, nothing gets accomplished.

            Or he actually grew out of his adolescent haxorz mindset.

            "If you're young and a Republican, you have no heart; if you're old and a Democrat, you have no brain."

            --
            "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
            • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @03:44AM (7 children)

              by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @03:44AM (#1212596)

              I mean, if any of that makes you feel better ok.

              Like the "boys will be boys" you fucks have taken being an asshole to epic levels and want everyone else to ignore your shitty behavior. You should try Catholicism, they work quite well with evil twats that want absolution.

              "In order to get anything done in life, you usually have to be at least a little bit of an asshole from time to time."

              Only conservatives tend to spout such nonsense. There are times to be an asshole, but if those aren't very few and far between then you're just a rude lazy cunt that uses anger to force your way through problems. Your quote about brains is hilarious, remind me what group believes Donald J. Trump's words? Going so far as to commit insurrection for a liar shut down multiple times by courts with not a shred of even halfway decent evidence?

              Welp, marking tangomargarine as yet another moron preferring their partisan identity politics over the truth.

              • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday January 14 2022, @06:33AM (3 children)

                by tangomargarine (667) on Friday January 14 2022, @06:33AM (#1212624)

                I mean, if any of that makes you feel better ok.

                Like the "boys will be boys" you fucks have taken being an asshole to epic levels and want everyone else to ignore your shitty behavior. You should try Catholicism

                Sterling opener you've got here, champ. Way to convince "us" that you're in the right.

                --
                "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
                • (Score: 1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:36PM (2 children)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:36PM (#1212706)

                  "Ess Jay Dubya"
                  "Gotta be an asshole to get things done"
                  "Old smart people are Republicans"

                  Really tango? You are going to claim the high ground after those "brilliant" lines? Makes one wonder what other gems of "wisdom" you've got floating around. Any studies on acorns and human cranial volumes?

                  • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Saturday January 15 2022, @02:19AM (1 child)

                    by tangomargarine (667) on Saturday January 15 2022, @02:19AM (#1212836)

                    At least I actually have arguments instead of just name-calling.

                    --
                    "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
                    • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 16 2022, @02:41PM

                      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 16 2022, @02:41PM (#1213135)

                      Those were just name calling. You're not too bright.

              • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday January 14 2022, @06:39AM (2 children)

                by tangomargarine (667) on Friday January 14 2022, @06:39AM (#1212626)

                Only conservatives tend to spout such nonsense.

                Hilarious. No, I'm not conservative in the least.

                There are times to be an asshole,

                Agreed, which is why I briefly entertained the notion that Trump might actually accomplish anything when he got elected.

                but if those aren't very few and far between then you're just a rude lazy cunt

                Ah yes, continuing to come across well here

                that uses anger to force your way through problems. Your quote about brains is hilarious, remind me what group believes Donald J. Trump's words? Going so far as to commit insurrection for a liar shut down multiple times by courts with not a shred of even halfway decent evidence?

                You seem to think that I support Trump, which is continuing to be hilarious.

                Welp, marking tangomargarine as yet another moron preferring their partisan identity politics over the truth.

                Clearly an AC who has never read anything else I've posted on this site. Thanks *so* much for your input.

                --
                "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
                • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:45AM (1 child)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:45AM (#1212638)

                  Hilarious. No, I'm not conservative in the least.

                  I think there has been progress. First, we got all the racists to deny they were racists, out of shame, and say things like "I'm not racist, but . . .". Now we got conservatives to deny being conservative, in much the same way! I'm not saying that tango is another khallow, but he does seem to share the sort of libertarian leet haxxor political views. He is afraid of CoC's and SJWs, and believes s/he is where they are out of merit, not privilege.

                  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:46PM

                    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:46PM (#1212745)

                    Fuck you, Cultural Marxist rat. It's not privilege, but birthright and should be guarded way more fiercely.

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by quietus on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:20PM (3 children)

    by quietus (6328) on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:20PM (#1212456) Journal

    "I was writing all the Android code, was writing all of the server code, was the only person on call for the service, was facilitating all product development, and was managing everyone," he wrote. "I couldn't ever leave cell service, had to take my laptop with me everywhere in case of emergencies, and occasionally found myself sitting alone on the sidewalk in the rain late at night trying to diagnose a service degradation."

    That quote made me think of HeartBleed -- essentially 2 guys keeping an essential piece (OpenSSL) of software running -- and leaves me very worried about the [security of the] service. (There were still one or two OpenBSD developers spitting through the OpenSSL code, according to a 2020 (i believe) report on undeadly.org, and they're only halfway through.)

    (For the record: this is not criticism on [the quality of the code produced by] Moxie Marlinspike, nor his security knowledge.)

    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:27PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:27PM (#1212461)

      There were still one or two OpenBSD developers spitting through the OpenSSL code, according to a 2020 (i believe) report on undeadly.org, and they're only halfway through

      https://www.openssl.org/community/committers.html [openssl.org]

      There is a few more now. They have a budget of around $1 million

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSSL#Project_history [wikipedia.org]

      It's better than it used to be.

      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by quietus on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:37PM

        by quietus (6328) on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:37PM (#1212467) Journal

        Better than it used to be ... If those 18 committers were working full-time, you'd need two to three times that budget of $1 million for a year's worth of their production. And yet, the whole world still depends on that piece of software.

      • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 15 2022, @01:34AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 15 2022, @01:34AM (#1212822)

        LibreSSL is OpenBSD, OpenSSL is still the same clowns!

  • (Score: 4, Informative) by quietus on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:43PM (1 child)

    by quietus (6328) on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:43PM (#1212472) Journal

    It might be that Moxie has some plans towards Web3.0. Here's a quote from a July blog post of his, a scathing commentary/analysis on the current state of Web3.0 [moxie.org]:

    Personally, I think enough money has been made at this point that there are enough faucets to keep it going, and this won’t just be a blip. If that’s the case, it seems worth thinking about how to avoid web3 being web2x2 (web2 but with even less privacy) with some urgency.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:49PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @06:49PM (#1212476)

      That reads like he wisely wants web3.0 to not happen, and is giving up a cushy job to work on it.

  • (Score: 0, Troll) by aristarchus on Thursday January 13 2022, @08:37PM (5 children)

    by aristarchus (2645) on Thursday January 13 2022, @08:37PM (#1212515) Journal

    Could it have something to do with this? [abc7.com]

    Authorities have said Rhodes was part of an encrypted Signal chat with Oath Keepers from multiple states leading up to Jan. 6 called "DC OP: Jan 6 21" and it showed the group was "activating a plan to use force" that day.

    On the afternoon of the 6th, authorities say Rhodes told the group over Signal: "All I see Trump doing is complaining. I see no intent by him to do anything. So the patriots are taking it into their own hands. They've had enough."

    Common carrier status for encrypted insurrection comms? Or Complicity?

    • (Score: 2) by Frosty Piss on Thursday January 13 2022, @09:36PM (1 child)

      by Frosty Piss (4971) on Thursday January 13 2022, @09:36PM (#1212527)

      What this tells me is that Signal either isn’t as secure as they say, or Signal has been cooperating with the DOJ.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @10:36PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 13 2022, @10:36PM (#1212538)

        Or that they got the information some other way. Anything from spyware on the end user's device to getting people involved to talk.

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:54AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:54AM (#1212560)

      Neither. Endpoint security. The Oath Keepers are listed as a terrorist group. Their personnel have been infiltrated, and presumably some of their devices have also been compromised (though they'll use parallel construction to avoid having to reveal the tradecraft of the latter). But this isn't even that. This is info provided as part of a plea bargain. Someone opened their Signal history voluntarily.

      There's nothing about cracking Signal or disclosures from Signal here. That would be a HUGE scoop and the reporter would NOT have let that one go.

      Not to say that Signal is uncrackable (last I checked they hadn't moved entirely to post-quantum cryptography), just that if it has been cracked, this isn't the time and place that they'll reveal that.

      The time and place would be if/when there's billions$ and/or national security on the line. Oath Keepers are a local security threat, not a national scale threat, at present.

      • (Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:53PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:53PM (#1212747)

        "The Oath Keepers are listed as a terrorist group. "

        wtf are you talking about? The Jew rats at the SPLC? Cops swearing to abide by the fucking constitution is not terrorist unless you're a subversive communist jew trying to destroy america and the white race.

        "Oath Keepers are a local security threat"

        STFU, you stupid bitch. I haven't seen them doing anything and if they did it would be for the better.

    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:45AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:45AM (#1212617)

      At the risk of turning this all into a discussion of Orange Man, if the people who were supposedly acting at his behest were complaining that he didn't do anything, isn't that pretty good evidence that he wasn't involved?

      That doesn't mean he handled the situation well, or that he bears no responsibility for it. But it does seem to be a good indication that he's not actually guilty of anything.

  • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday January 14 2022, @01:40AM (9 children)

    by tangomargarine (667) on Friday January 14 2022, @01:40AM (#1212565)

    [Moxie] Marlinspike - whose real name is Matthew Rosenfeld

    Oh whew, here I was thinking that he must have hippy parents or he legally changed his name or something, because nobody *really* has a name that ridiculous.

    Unfortunately the Wikipedia article makes no mention of how he got this name, or how he's convinced people to call him that. Is this just like an online handle, or what?

    oh geez, look at this guy [moneyinc.com]

    10 Things You Didn’t Know about Moxie Marlinspike [moneyinc.com]

    Moxie Marlinspike is a cryptographer as well as an entrepreneur. He is known for a number of things in his chosen field. For example, Marlinspike is the creator of Signal, which is an encrypted instant messaging service. Similarly, he is a co-author of the encryption used by Signal plus Skype, Whatsapp, and Facebook Messenger.

    1. Interested Individuals Might Know Him Better Under a Different Name
    Some interested individuals might know Marlinspike better under a different name. After all, Marlinspike isn’t Marlinspike’s birth name. Instead, that would be Matthew Rosenfeld.

    2. Came from Georgia
    Marlinspike has a strong interest in...

    Damn you, you can't just tease that and leave me hanging! "That's not his real name. Moving on--"

    I can't just start calling myself Carlos Spicyweiner or Eccentrica Gallumbits one day and somehow everybody will indulge me. Or maybe they will? Trans is a thing now, after all.

    --
    "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @03:51AM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @03:51AM (#1212599)

      "Trans is a thing now, after all."

      Ackshually, been a thing since forever like homosexuality, only recently has some of society accepted this reality. Of course your "acceptance" is surrounded by ridiculous examples thus making light of others' troubles. So turns out you're just another asshole that probably gets a chuckle out of identifying as an Apache Attack Helicopter.

      • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday January 14 2022, @06:53AM (2 children)

        by tangomargarine (667) on Friday January 14 2022, @06:53AM (#1212629)

        Of course your "acceptance" is surrounded by ridiculous examples

        Really? Pray tell, which examples did I give?

        So turns out you're just another asshole that probably gets a chuckle out of identifying as an Apache Attack Helicopter.

        When it's literally 1% of the population and people are hellbent on making it "normal", sure.

        normal, n.: conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.

        When 99% of the population is non-trans, I don't expect J Random Person I run into on the street to be trans. But of course calling them "not normal" means "I hate them and I'm a transphobe!"*

        At what point did "not normal" come to mean "therefore I hate you"? Statistically, almost everybody is "not-normal" in one way or another.

        *Hijacking -phobe to mean "someone who expresses any of a range of negative emotions towards" instead of "has an irrational hatred towards" is also stupid. As if the only reason you could have an objection to something is because you have an irrational hatred towards it? Does hating the Nazis make me a "Naziphobe"?

        --
        "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
        • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:46PM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:46PM (#1212711)

          I suggest you learn more about words before you attempt to reengage the argument. Given your protestations we have downgraded you from hater to unwitting fool. You may not actively hate trans folk but your jokes and irritation at their demand for rights and use of insulting jokes defended by bad logic shows you are a wanker suffering transphobia. Hint, phobia is the suffix you seem to misunderstand.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @10:16PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @10:16PM (#1212785)

            Parent posters are correct. The mentally ill have always been with us, but researchers have shown that many kids are identifying as trans now because it makes you special. They will outgrow that, just like their parents outgrew their "punk" phase.

      • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:11PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:11PM (#1212655)

        Ackshually, [being an asshole has] been a thing since forever like homosexuality, only recently has some of society [rejected] this reality [in an attempt to make themselves feel better about being different than 97.8% of the total population].

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @06:36AM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @06:36AM (#1212625)

      somehow, I don't see the change from Tango Margarine to Eccentrica Gallumbits as being that significant.
      but what do I know...

      • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday January 14 2022, @06:41AM (1 child)

        by tangomargarine (667) on Friday January 14 2022, @06:41AM (#1212627)

        At least I actually have a username.

        --
        "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
        • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:48AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:48AM (#1212639)

          Right, Ari!

    • (Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:57PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @07:57PM (#1212749)

      Oh whew, here I was thinking that he must have hippy parents or he legally changed his name or something, because nobody *really* has a name that ridiculous.

      Unfortunately the Wikipedia article makes no mention of how he got this name, or how he's convinced people to call him that. Is this just like an online handle, or what?

      Jews hiding their jewish-ness is nothing new. Wikipedia is controlled by Jews, just like almost all the media, so they are all more than happy to cater to his Crypto-Jew behavior. No mystery here.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:24PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @12:24PM (#1212658)

    When the founder leaves, generally something bad is going to happen to the service. Signal probably worked too well for it's own good. Now that they have a crypto offering is it going to require KYC? That is a US law.

    Your encrypted chats are now going to get tied to your name and ID because "crypto". And that's the last thing I wanted from a messenger app too.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:49PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @05:49PM (#1212712)

      They already are tied to your phone number and it would be trivial for the NSA to figure out anyway. When you monitor the whole network it is very difficult to hide where a message originated. You'll have to take a lot more precautions than encrypting the content if you truly don't want to be tracked.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @10:18PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 14 2022, @10:18PM (#1212787)

    I was going to start a camsoda porno account, and now I find that the name I was planning on using is already taken. Thanks, Mr. Marlinspike!

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