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German police read Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp messages without breaking encryption (cybernews.com)
submitted 3 days ago* by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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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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[–] 8 points 3 days ago (2 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.

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  • [–] 10 points 3 days ago (1 child)

    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 (???).

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  • [–] 2 points 2 days ago

    I guess in this case they block the account if it has no 2FA set up. If the account has TOTP set up it may be enough to avoid being blocked, even under brute forcing and without phone number.

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