this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2024
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A Modern Private Messenger (lazysoci.al)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al to c/askandroid@lemdro.id
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In light of what's happened to Durov and possibly seeing Telegram compromised, I'm doubling my efforts to find a new main messenger. Before you start, not Signal as it's a bad fit for the needs of me, my family and friends.

So what do I need?

  • The ability to run on multiple devices. Me, my family and friends all have multiple Android devices.
  • The ability to run on desktop. Linux and Windows.
  • Built in sticker repository. What can I say, I like to lazy flirt.
  • Animated Emoji. I like my messenger experience vibrant.
  • Material You. Again with the vibrancy, but also, it's a sign of modernity.
  • Phone number linking. My family and friends are lazy as hell.
  • Synchronized chats. I don't mind self hosting a bridge, but the ability to see messages on multiple devices is a must.
  • Voice Messages
  • Video Calls
  • Group Video Calls
  • Stories integrated into as first class citizens
  • Private. If you suggest WhatsApp, I'm assuming you're either stupid or a troll.

Can anyone recommend anything?

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[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It reminds me of how Mozilla was hemorrhaging contributors but kept trying to stick to IRC. I'm definitely not saying don't support the legacy contributors, but be aware of what modern demographics want to use and why, because if you're not moving forward, you're being left behind.

And thank y'all for the clarification, I'll be sure to get them right in future posts. Forgive my earlier ignorance. I didn't mean to disrespect y'all.

[–] oftheair@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Oof, yeah IRC is awful and sadly we're forced to use some things that still use IRC to communicate and we're not really sure why. There does seem to be a derth of users that have moved with the times in leadership positions of important projects.

We have seen it recently with some things we use and we hope it strongly forces them to consider being wrong or that it blows up in their faces. Because yeah, we agree if you're not moving with the times you will hemorage contributors and then you'll only be left with the 'old guard' or worse people (such as fascists not that two aren't the same many time, heh).

Also, Mozilla is just a really poorly run company to begin with and needs some serious restructuring and to stop doing things that serves only itself and not its users. If it genuinely cared about its users and allowed direct donations to firefox perhaps folks would have fewer problems with it.

Sure, we are happy to help!

[–] liveinthisworld@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Please explain how a properly set up IRC server is awful. If you find the time also contrast it with the more "modern" solutions like Discord and Slack

[–] oftheair@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Because none of the examples you listed have end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy for one, including IRC. Also, IRC specifically is very confusing to even make a username on and keep it, let alone know how to do anything else on.

We have never used Discord or Slack, specifically because they don't have e2ee, but at least they have, from what we understand, a pretty simple sign up process and good UI/UX.

[–] liveinthisworld@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I admit that is inherently an insecure form of communication. I don't see a problem if you're using PGP though. And at least IRC can be self hosted. I suppose one can use a private Matrix instance too.

What problems are you having in signing up for IRC? Just use a client for your OS? I didn't find it especially hard when I did it, I'm part of a few channels for Linux. Just treat it like you treat any group chat. If there's bots there will also likely be a page with instructions/wiki

Unless you're using PGP on Discord and Slack too I don't understand how you're not disgusted by them.

[–] oftheair@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yes, this is why we use matrix over IRC due to e2ee. PGP last we checked doesn't have PFS, sadly.

We remember when we used IRC having to remember all those silly commands for nick bots wasn't exactly good UX.

We said that we don't use Discord/Slack for that reason, so yes, we are disgusted by them too.

[–] liveinthisworld@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Yes, it is unfortunate that forward secrecy is missing from all of these. Is there any encryption mechanism for text which maintains PFS? I haven't tried AGE personally.

Haha takes me back, the bots. IRC was much prevalent back then, I suppose I'm just nostalgic. I won't argue against Matrix.

Thanks, so we're on the same page.

Edit: there seems to be some work going into PFS

https://otr.cypherpunks.ca/

https://www.cs.umd.edu/~jkatz/papers/forward-enc-full.pdf