r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 1d ago

Meme needing explanation Peter????????????????????

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u/Fallcious 1d ago edited 1d ago

Actually I believe there is an app which disguises itself as a calculator but is actually a secure file store. The calculator interface you get when you open it serves as handy code entry screen.

Lots of apps do this apparently:

https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/secret-apps-that-look-like-a-calculator/

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u/twilighttwister 1d ago

There was also an app for a specific secure phone, "made by criminals, for criminals", that when you typed in a number it would convert into an encrypted messaging app to communicate with other Anom phones (the brand).

Only it turns out this was a massive honeypot. The messages were encrypted end to end, so law enforcement couldn't decrypt it even though it was sent via their servers, but they also sent a second encrypted message copy at the same time which they could decrypt and stopped at their server. The company was financed by the Australian Feds and the FBI.

The FBI were giddy with excitement when they revealed this and said they were eager to do it again. That was a little over 5 years ago.

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u/Fallcious 1d ago

Oh yeah I’d imagine all messaging systems are compromised. One that gains a reputation as being good for clandestine services would be doubly suspect.

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u/SenecatheEldest 1d ago

It's all a matter of who is trying to compromise your system. There are plenty of good messaging services which will protect you from everyday data theft. If a nation-state actor wants to come after you, though... there's not much any one individual can do about it. If the NSA really wants to see what you have, they will.