Send Signal Messages over Tor with Whonix

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Use Signal Private Messenger over the Tor network with Whonix.

Anonymity Specific[edit]

The mandatory linkage of the desktop software application with a phone number makes it very likely adversaries can easily link any 'anonymous' use of Signal in Whonix with a user's real identity, even if a secondary phone number is used as a limited workaround. Notably, to date Signal has ignored user requests to enable registration with an email account as a possible alternative. For this reason alone, alternative options like Gajim should be investigated instead; see Instant Messenger Chat for further information. Readers are of course free to ignore this advice -- see below for Whonix instructions.

It is possible to install the standalone Signal Desktop application versionarchive.org for Linux in Whonix-Workstation, and tunneling the application over the Tor network. However, this configuration is not recommended because although the traffic will be routed over the Tor network, Signal requires the user provide a phone number for verification. [1] See Phone Number Validation vs User Privacy.

Installation[edit]

Info COMMUNITY SUPPORT ONLY : THIS WHOLE WIKI PAGE is only supported by the community. Whonix developers are very unlikely to provide free support for this content. See Community Support for further information, including implications and possible alternatives.

Since Whonix is based on Kicksecure, the user can follow these instructions Kicksecure logo Signal The Web Archive Onion Version (links to the Kicksecure website)

See Also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. The number can be different form the device's SIM card; it can be a landline or VoIP number, so long as the user can receive the verification code and possesses a separate device to set up the software.

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