Send Signal Messages over Tor with Whonix
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Signal LogoUse 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 version
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]
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.
- Introduction: Whonix Documentation Introduction, User Expectations, Footnotes and References, User Expectations - What Documentation Is and What It Is Not
- Whonix is based on Kicksecure™: Whonix inherits many features and principles from Kicksecure.
- Kicksecure is based on Debian: Kicksecure builds upon the stability of Debian.
- Inheritance: Therefore, Whonix is also based on Debian.
- Debian is GNU/Linux-based: Debian primarily uses the GNU/Linux as its foundation.
- Shared documentation benefits: Because one distribution is based on another:
- Inherited documentation: Little specific documentation is required for each layer.
- Shared principles: Features and principles often remain consistent across forks. Users can often follow the same instructions for both Whonix and Kicksecure.
- Keep using Whonix: This does not mean the user should switch to Kicksecure.
- Where to apply the instructions: The instructions should be applied inside Whonix.
- Wiki editors notice: This box is wiki template upstream_wiki. (Pages that link to it.)
- Comparison: Whonix versus Kicksecure
- Documentation compatibility: Since Whonix is based on Kicksecure, the user can follow these instructions for
Signal
. Apply the instructions inside Whonix, not Kicksecure. - Note: Re-interpretation...
Kicksecure: Perform these steps inside Kicksecure.
Instead the user should apply the instructions inside Whonix-Workstation.
Kicksecure for Qubes: Perform these steps inside Qubes
kicksecure-17Template.
Instead the user should apply the instructions inside whonix-workstation-17 Template.
See Also[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ 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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