Messaging Applications

PhileasFogg

What messaging apps do you guys use? I want to have a very secure one and avoid using a phone number.

Max-Zorin

I think when you look at a messenger app the big things you want to look at are:

How many of your friends/famlily use it or would be willing to switch.
Privacy and security provided by the app.

There are lots of very secure / private messaging apps out there that don't require a phone number (e.g. Session, SimpleX) but there are not a lot of users, and good luck convincing your friends and family members to use them.

In my opinion most people have to look at tradeoffs. For example, I use Whatsapp not because I want to but because a lot of my local and international contacts use it and its more secure and private than using something like SMS. Again, I'm not happy that I'm using it but that is the tradeoff.

I also use Signal and had a number of people switched over because it allowed encrypted communications between Signal users but also allowed SMS communications with non-Signal users. I could use that as a selling point for people who contacts who "didn't want another app on their phone". Encrypted communications with audio and video calling for Signal users plus SMS support all in one.

Now Signal is taking away SMS support which I think is going to significantly reduce their user base in North America where SMS is still very well used.

PhileasFogg

Max-Zorin
How secure is Telegram?

Blastoidea

I manage to convince my small tribe to follow me to Session from Wickr. We seem to have intermittent problems with notifications, but nothing I can really pin down.

I like Session because of the Onion Routing.

Tribe = Other Half 1, Daughter 1, Granddaughter 3, grandson-in-law 1. (Plus me)

I have convinced a few my friends, and two of her
nieces to use Signal.

I have one obstinate friend who insists on SMS, but I don’t message him very much or often.

Kottonballs

My entire family followed me to Session. The key seems to be waiting for the message checkmark to appear before minimizing the app. My notifications are slower on my P7 but I know exactly why.

Max-Zorin

PhileasFogg Not sure but there are a lot of youtube videos and guides, like privacyguides.org, eff.org with more information.

Albatross

PhileasFogg
"Moderately". Overall, avoid it if security and privacy are a priority. Can't do encrypted groups and not as trustworthy as other projects. I do use it for some things, but not messaging.

Signal is the current "iMessage" of the privacy space. Not perfect (e.g. requires a phone #) but it works, has broad adoption, and is easy to use.

Beyond that you have Session, Matrix, Briar, and the like. All could be considered more private and potentially secure than Signal, but they are less polished, less adopted, and generally have fewer desirable features to entice adoption amongst your less-privacy-interested sphere of contacts. I have had great success moving my messaging sphere to Signal. YMMV.

Albatross

P.S. The only reason I can think of to avoid the phone #, for most users, is talking to people who you would never give your phone #. If that's you, I'd use Matrix or Session. But if you plan to talk to friends and family or coworkers, I think Signal is an easier win.

dirksche

It's in german, but maybe helps. Deepl.com is your friend.
https://www.messenger-matrix.de/messenger-matrix.html