this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2026
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82
German police read Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp messages without breaking encryption (cybernews.com)
submitted 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) by schizoidman@lemmy.zip to c/technology@lemmy.world
23 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/71321898

Netzpoltik details that police are able to gain access in this way either through physical access to someone’s phone or by intercepting verification codes via a state-sanctioned phishing attack or intercepting SMS messages via telephone surveillance

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[–] Crumpled6273@lemmy.ca 23 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (2 children)

Because many services only have SMS as 2FA option. Especially government services.

Also it is impossible to use google without enabling the SMS 2FA option. No matter what, with only 2FA authenticator app or email, they will lock down the account by saying "unable to verify".

[–] Yaky@slrpnk.net 2 points 50 minutes ago (1 children)

You can have a Google account without 2FA, but you need to create it using a factory-reset old Android phone (Android 8 or so).

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 19 minutes ago

Why are people even complaining about this then?!

[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I never set a phone number on two of my google accounts and they still work fine. Those accounts are old. Google didn't ask for a phone number to sign up back then.

I recall seeing something about them planning to get rid of SMS 2FA last year. It looks like it's still an option though.

[–] Zarobi@aussie.zone 0 points 20 minutes ago

Watch out, if those accounts are ever "locked", you will get permanently locked out of the accounts. Happened to me because a data breach revealed my email address and some idiot tried brute forcing my password. Didn't work but it broke the account. Secondary recovery email address and correct password wasn't good enough. Support basically told me to give up and make a new account (???).