Signal vs Threema as a Secure Messaging App

I think if you consider all the trade-offs between security, privacy and usability (which goes hand in hand with a decent number of users), these two messengers are the only choice. For Signal I have got a significantly larger user base which is probably due to the fact that it is for free and people get more pleasant features they like from WA (e.g. stories). Threema is a bit more sober. However, I like the polls there a lot. BTW: With Threema you can decide for every single contact if this contact recieves a "read receipt" or "typing indicator". And you still can see those receipts yourself if your contact allows you to see them. Even if you don't allow that contact to see receipts for the messages he sent to you. You can also tell Threema to search your own contact list for contacts who have Threema without the necessity to share your own phone number. So you can find Threema users from your contacts without telling them that you use Threema (unless you text them via Threema of course).

My family and I switched to Session on the first of the year.

It works fine for us.

i never see element mentioned in these discussions. is it not up to par with the rest? always seemed like a good option.

itsjpb From what I've heard, the issue with Matrix (the protocol Element uses) is metadata.

Max-Zorin To me it comes down to how many of your contacts are actually willing to use the messaging app. The unwillingness of many people to "install another messenger" on their phones seems to be one of the strongest forces in nature

This.

The best option is not to rely on centralized solutions. Keep in mind that Signal has not update server code for months without explanation. BTW, you have no idea what it is implemented on server side.

You can consider using your own XMPP server in i2p or Tor network. It's easy and cheap. If someone has money for Pixel they should have 'pennies' for Pine board or RPI or something similar.

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/2216-grapheneos-without-sim-signal-alternative/25

treequell
From the operational point of view metadata is more important than content of your messages. The social graph has a big value.
If you know social graph you can use other operational tools to obtain information you want to get.

Former head of the National Security Agency Gen. Michael Hayden: "We Kill People Based on Metadata"

Threema has a lot of issues, you should give this article a read.

Session shouldn't be used nor recommended. It is a very broken and poorly maintained app an thus it's insecure. You'll accomplish the opposite of what you want by using session. They're also misguiding users into a false sense of security and privacy.

While Threema and Signal have their issues, they're still the best secure messaging options out there. Especially with the upcoming Signal feature to remove the tel nr requirement.

[deleted] This is no longer true: https://threema.ch/en/blog/posts/ibex

PintOfGuinness As far as messaging is concerned, Olvid is the best in security. Then signal. Its two messaging systems feature post-quantum encryption, have been audited and are widely validated.
A special mention goes to olvid, which contains fewer attack surfaces, as there is no telephone number library.

https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android
https://github.com/olvid-io/olvid-android

Themble The other issues mentioned in the article (Weak KDF, Unauthenticated CBC mode, Cache-timing attacks, etc.) still apply.

Threema all the way, I hate Signal.

AlanZ Threema all the way

Threema is fine for a lot of usecases.

Max-Zorin To me it comes down to how many of your contacts are actually willing to use the messaging app. The unwillingness of many people to "install another messenger" on their phones seems to be one of the strongest forces in nature........

So true.
I ended up with Molly and threema. People can reach me there or they should use Phone, SMS or mail.