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I never considered Telegram to be safe or private, but it was too convenient for semi-normies to get them to use anything else.

This is what someone recommend, but someone also commented that Session is likely compromised and a honeypot:

Briar "Censorship-resistant peer-to-peer messaging that bypasses centralized servers. Connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Tor, with privacy built-in."

Session "Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that minimises sensitive metadata, designed and built for people who want absolute privacy and freedom from any form of surveillance."

XMPP The original 25 year old open-source instant messaging standard.

Settin up an own Matrix server with Element would also be great, but might be a bit too complicated.

I never considered Telegram to be safe or private, but it was too convenient for semi-normies to get them to use anything else. This is what someone recommend, but someone also commented that Session is likely compromised and a honeypot: >Briar "Censorship-resistant peer-to-peer messaging that bypasses centralized servers. Connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Tor, with privacy built-in." >Session "Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that minimises sensitive metadata, designed and built for people who want absolute privacy and freedom from any form of surveillance." >XMPP The original 25 year old open-source instant messaging standard. Settin up an own Matrix server with Element would also be great, but might be a bit too complicated.

(post is archived)

[–] 7 pts 6mo

It does not matter what software you use. The backdoors are baked in at the hardware level. There is no such thing as "private messaging".

[–] 0 pt 6mo

explain further. cpus do have some hidden instructions and backdoors, but there are encryptions without backdoors that can't be cracked easily.

[–] 3 pts 6mo

Your data gets encrypted via the software. You can use the worlds most advanced encryption and it does not matter because the hardware has access to the raw data you enter into any given software BEFORE it gets encrypted. CPU, GPU, modem/radio, etc.. Chips galore...

Your BT, Wifi, IR, NFC, GPS, Modem, etc. are always enabled regardless of what the on/off toggle on your phone/PC might say.

[–] 2 pts 6mo

Tox is an encrypted P2P service that you connect with your hash. There are no servers. It's inconvenient in the sense that you have no usernames, just hashes.

Briar is, for the most part, Android only. They have an (old) desktop beta client. Don't know much about Session XMPP is great in that you can host your own server, if you want. It's a poor mobile choice, however.

I don't think Telegram is out of the picture, there are more people working on it than just the founder. He may break, however, and give up backdoor keys, who knows.

[–] 3 pts 6mo

He may break, however, and give up backdoor keys, who knows.

That's what worries me.

What about android keyboard apps? Google keyboard is without doubt a spyware on it's own. I know phones are all basically tracking devices, but I just want to make it as difficult as possible for them to get my info. Make them earn that mossad wage.

[–] 2 pts 6mo

You'll need to give up electronic communications, then.

[–] 3 pts 6mo

Stop trying to bring back messenger pigeons, I'm not changing one beaks for another beaks.

[–] 1 pt 6mo

there's also urbit but we're leaving the realm of normies here

[–] 0 pt 6mo

I'm looking at that and it's...kind of what is this?

[–] 1 pt 6mo

it's basically encrypted and decentralized computing, a new realm of computing. i've been following them for almost a decade or whatever, they're not really ready for wide-spread adoption yet. but it would make it impossible for govts to be in control of anything on the internet

[–] 2 pts 6mo

Telegram isn't going anywhere. This arrest will make the app more popular that it ever was and they guy will probably double his net worth in the next year or so.

[–] 3 pts 6mo

Probably, but what kind of deal will be struck, that's a question.

[–] 2 pts 6mo

Selling out all the user base of course.

[–] 1 pt 6mo (edited 6mo)

I mean there's Signal, but Signal's desktop app is absolute garbage (the mobile app is pretty similar to Telegram), and you have to give your phone number. I tried Session for a while but it isn't really catching on.

There was Status.im but I think that got killed off or something. I'm also looking for alternatives right now (funnily enough, I started this a month back, just from a gut feeling that someone was going to happen to Telegram).

EDIT: Also there's gurk-rs for Signal for tui fans (such as myself), but it's a bad UI, basically cramming a graphical interface into a terminal app. And won't display images of course (no icat support afaik), and with the few normies I keep in touch with via Telegram, images are an integral part of our conversations.

[–] 4 pts 6mo

Stay away from Signal, it's 100% glowie app. Look it up on here, I'm sure there is info on it.

[–] 1 pt 6mo

You give your phone number. The sessions don't record (AFAIK) any of the data you send, but you're identified as using the service.

Credit reporting companies use your phone number to identify you, so it's easy enough to tie number to you.

[–] 1 pt 6mo

Signal, they say, is fucked - but I'm really not sure.

XMPP + OMEMO is cryptographically unbroken so far.