[whispersystems] MMS problem

[Matej Kovacic]

Hi,

I live in Slovenia and our media are reporting about NSA spying on
slovenian communication (Rampant/Eikonal programme) a lot in last few
days. This is of course a great opportunity for promotion of secure
communications.

Unfortunately, there are some serious obstacles for that.

TextSecure has some serious bug - it is not possible to receive MMS
messages (for instance slovenian mobile operator Simobil). There is also
a bug reported (#3019), however, there is no solution yet. Some people
are even claiming that this is not Textsecure bug, but I should mention
MMS receiving has been working in some past TextSecure releases just
perfect.

Now, strictly to the point.

Today I had a short interview for one of slovenian TV stations and of
course I mentioned Signal/TextSecure/RedPhone. The journalist who
interviewed me also attended my Cryptoparty workshop about secure
communications a few months ago, and he told me, he tried to use
TextSecure, but does not use it anymore, because he had problems with
MMS messages. He told me, he receives a lot of MMS messages, and
couldn't afford MMS problems with TextSecure.

So he uninstalled TextSecure and also told me, he cannot promote this
software, because it is not usable.

I do not agree with him, I am willing to sacrifice receiving MMS
messages to greater security, but most people just want to install
TextSecure and use is as previous messaging app.

So the bug #3019 is an important bug and I believe, it should be
addressed as such.

Regards,

Matej

[359]

I can confirm that MMS isn't working in TextSecure/Signal on Android in Slovenia anymore. Not only on Simobil, also on Mobitel operator. It worked fine for years and i don't know exactly when it broke because i use MMS rearly.

- jure

Post by Matej Kovacic
Hi,
I live in Slovenia and our media are reporting about NSA spying on
slovenian communication (Rampant/Eikonal programme) a lot in last few
days. This is of course a great opportunity for promotion of secure
communications.
Unfortunately, there are some serious obstacles for that.
TextSecure has some serious bug - it is not possible to receive MMS
messages (for instance slovenian mobile operator Simobil). There is also
a bug reported (#3019), however, there is no solution yet. Some people
are even claiming that this is not Textsecure bug, but I should mention
MMS receiving has been working in some past TextSecure releases just
perfect.
Now, strictly to the point.
Today I had a short interview for one of slovenian TV stations and of
course I mentioned Signal/TextSecure/RedPhone. The journalist who
interviewed me also attended my Cryptoparty workshop about secure
communications a few months ago, and he told me, he tried to use
TextSecure, but does not use it anymore, because he had problems with
MMS messages. He told me, he receives a lot of MMS messages, and
couldn't afford MMS problems with TextSecure.
So he uninstalled TextSecure and also told me, he cannot promote this
software, because it is not usable.
I do not agree with him, I am willing to sacrifice receiving MMS
messages to greater security, but most people just want to install
TextSecure and use is as previous messaging app.
So the bug #3019 is an important bug and I believe, it should be
addressed as such.
Regards,
Matej

[Steffen Märcker]

Just to be sure: Could it be that these carriers disabled MMS due to the Stagefright vulnerabilities, like Deutsche Telekom did?

Post by 359
I can confirm that MMS isn't working in TextSecure/Signal on Android in
Slovenia anymore. Not only on Simobil, also on Mobitel operator. It
worked fine for years and i don't know exactly when it broke because i
use MMS rearly.
- jure
On October 6, 2015 11:43:36 PM GMT+02:00, Matej Kovacic

Post by Matej Kovacic
Hi,
I live in Slovenia and our media are reporting about NSA spying on
slovenian communication (Rampant/Eikonal programme) a lot in last few
days. This is of course a great opportunity for promotion of secure
communications.
Unfortunately, there are some serious obstacles for that.
TextSecure has some serious bug - it is not possible to receive MMS
messages (for instance slovenian mobile operator Simobil). There is also
a bug reported (#3019), however, there is no solution yet. Some people
are even claiming that this is not Textsecure bug, but I should

mention

Post by Matej Kovacic
MMS receiving has been working in some past TextSecure releases just
perfect.
Now, strictly to the point.
Today I had a short interview for one of slovenian TV stations and of
course I mentioned Signal/TextSecure/RedPhone. The journalist who
interviewed me also attended my Cryptoparty workshop about secure
communications a few months ago, and he told me, he tried to use
TextSecure, but does not use it anymore, because he had problems with
MMS messages. He told me, he receives a lot of MMS messages, and
couldn't afford MMS problems with TextSecure.
So he uninstalled TextSecure and also told me, he cannot promote this
software, because it is not usable.
I do not agree with him, I am willing to sacrifice receiving MMS
messages to greater security, but most people just want to install
TextSecure and use is as previous messaging app.
So the bug #3019 is an important bug and I believe, it should be
addressed as such.
Regards,
Matej

[359]

i believe this problem is a bit older then stagefright bug discovery, although not sure. also sending/receiving MMS with other apps works with both operators.
- 359

Post by Steffen Märcker
Just to be sure: Could it be that these carriers disabled MMS due to
the Stagefright vulnerabilities, like Deutsche Telekom did?

Post by 359
I can confirm that MMS isn't working in TextSecure/Signal on Android

in

Post by 359
Slovenia anymore. Not only on Simobil, also on Mobitel operator. It
worked fine for years and i don't know exactly when it broke because i
use MMS rearly.
- jure
On October 6, 2015 11:43:36 PM GMT+02:00, Matej Kovacic

Post by Matej Kovacic
Hi,
I live in Slovenia and our media are reporting about NSA spying on
slovenian communication (Rampant/Eikonal programme) a lot in last few
days. This is of course a great opportunity for promotion of secure
communications.
Unfortunately, there are some serious obstacles for that.
TextSecure has some serious bug - it is not possible to receive MMS
messages (for instance slovenian mobile operator Simobil). There is also
a bug reported (#3019), however, there is no solution yet. Some

people

Post by 359

Post by Matej Kovacic
are even claiming that this is not Textsecure bug, but I should

mention

Post by Matej Kovacic
MMS receiving has been working in some past TextSecure releases just
perfect.
Now, strictly to the point.
Today I had a short interview for one of slovenian TV stations and of
course I mentioned Signal/TextSecure/RedPhone. The journalist who
interviewed me also attended my Cryptoparty workshop about secure
communications a few months ago, and he told me, he tried to use
TextSecure, but does not use it anymore, because he had problems with
MMS messages. He told me, he receives a lot of MMS messages, and
couldn't afford MMS problems with TextSecure.
So he uninstalled TextSecure and also told me, he cannot promote this
software, because it is not usable.
I do not agree with him, I am willing to sacrifice receiving MMS
messages to greater security, but most people just want to install
TextSecure and use is as previous messaging app.
So the bug #3019 is an important bug and I believe, it should be
addressed as such.
Regards,
Matej