Signal
this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2023
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I dropped it when they decided to get rid of SMS. I don't want to be treated like I can't be trusted to be responsible for my own privacy and security. I understand the difference between an SMS and an encrypted Signal message and was fully aware of which contacts had Signal and which did not have it.
In my opinion they should have disabled SMS by default and made it an option with warnings to enable in the settings. They had already been doing borderline questionable things with crypto and the stories that I did not want in a messenger app... this was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.
I'm patiently waiting for a decent fork of Signal with SMS enabled, or a decent open source RCS client... unfortunately I landed on Google Messages for now.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I belive the reason why SMS was dropped was because of the unreliable interaction between two endpoints: If you're communicating with a contact over RCS in Google messages, and you'd send them a message over signal- they'd receive an SMS. But throttling reply would be over RCS and signal wouldn't be able to display that since there isn't an open API for signal to interact with RCS messages. So the whole reason to drop SMS support was due to inconsistencies of how messages in androids would be handled.
Basically, Signal could have implemented RCS messaging themselves, making them the de facto iMessage replacement on Android, but they chose not to so that their devs could instead spend their time building NFTs into their platform or whatever the next shiny bauble is.
I still use Signal for lack of a credible alternative but dropping SMS support in favour of NFTs and Stories was fucking dumb. They need to focus on being the best messaging platform first, then focus on expanding into other markets and functionality.
Signal could have implemented RCS messaging themselves
That would have been great, except Google doesn't provide an API for developers to use RCS in their own apps like they did with SMS. Google's basically forcing everyone (long term) into their messaging app, which I suspect will eventually be the "iMessage" of Android since there wont be any alternative "texting" apps.
I use Signal kinda exclusively. Managed to migrate my friends and family away from WhatsApp a few years back (I am living in Europe).
Managed to migrate my friends and family away from WhatsApp
Please tell my how I beg you
- Uninstall WhatsApp
- Family+friends will get notification that you left in every group you were in, and lose their shit. They will call you asking wtf is happening
- Try to calm the waters by telling them you found out Meta is a bad company and you don't want to participate it
- Get confusing looks and asked wtf is wrong with you
- Try to divert the complexity of the subject by mentioning that they can just download Signal and reach you there
- Get scoffed and manage to get one or two nearest friends on your Signal app
- Still get contacted by everyone's else on whatsapp and by your grandmother on FB messenger , although you ain't there
- Sucessfully managed to keep your 2 contacts on Signal and even see it growing to 4 over a year.
- Wait till Signal fucks up, delete it, install SimpleX, start over again
In about ~20y I should be able to convert all my friends away from Whatsapp then!
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My brother got everyone to switch from FB messenger to WhatsApp and then FB bought whatsapp and prompted a second switch to signal
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I wish more people in my life would use Signal but I've given up on converting people from WhatsApp.
I pretty much just use everything. my messaging folder has Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, SMS, etc lol.
Whatsapp is the norm here so I begrudgingly use that. Wish more people were on Signal, Matrix or Telegram.
You can apparently bridge Whatsapp and Matrix. I have looked into it for a few evenings but got nothing running despite having some experience with self hosting stuff. It was a while ago though.
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Elements (Matrix) as much as much as possible. I bridge a lot services through it. Though Signal would be the second most.
I tried to migrate friends and family to Signal a couple of years back. Only managed with 3 people :/.
Unfortunately here (Italy), WhatsApp is too much widespread as reach out method now. Especially for businesses, from restaurants to, say, the family doctor.
Signal. I refuse to use whatsapp even though that's what most people I know use.
I mainly use Signal, but sometimes have to fall back to SMS for people that aren't on Signal. I also have matrix accounts, but I never really use them since I don't have anyone among my friends and family that uses matrix.
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Signal is my go to. Some of my friends refuse to download it, so I just text them. I'll use iMessage on iOS and Google Messages on Android. But if I can use Signal, I will
Delta Chat is awesome encrypted/secure messaging via imap and thus compatible with anyone who has an email address.
Conversations is an excellent XMPP client.
Element (Matrix)
I use Signal!
I use Cinny. It's a desktop app for Matrix.
XMPP (with omemeo) is the classic (and also what FB messenger uses behind the scenes, without omemo), Matrix is the new kid on the block taking over. Both are decentralized sorta like the fediverse (but separate from said fediverse.)
Used to use Signal, but they're removing SMS support so everyone might as well switch to matrix. Wickr was bought by amazon (and they say they won't ruin it, riiiight), so that's out. Idk enough about briar or session, and telegram isn't as secure as people seem to think.
Signal and WhatsApp. WhatsApp only because a lot of people won't switch to Signal (or Threema, or Matrix).
- Signal,
- Whatsapp only for groups on a free prepaid Number nobody knows, on a 2nd phone bridge to matrix.
- Threema for 1Person ;)
- remaining via SMS.
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Waiting on SimpleX to have desktop client and sync to migrate from Signal. Meanwhile Molly and all the major platforms sadly
Signal and Telegram
The most secure app I know is SimpleX. It is like Matrix but without an identifier, so you really interacting only with people you want. No one can reach you unless you gave him a link to connect to you.
Two different people cannot be ensured they are talking to the same person since there is no identifier they can compare to.
unfortunately it is whatsapp.. Had everyone move to signal, but it didn't last :(
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Eh, mostly sms and telegram.
The only people I care about use sms, and I've convinced them to use telegram for thighs sms can't do, like file sharing.
I have and use matrix for specific tasks, and I got suckered into discord for gaming and reddit. But neither get used much nowadays. There's one discord server I stay vaguely active on because internet friends use it. Post reddit implosion, the matrix isn't very useful since they were for mod chats and I'm only modding one sub until the end of the month, and that's mostly solo (no need for chats lol)
For your friends and family, Signal is probably the best. It's simple to use and set up, unlike SimpleX which some might have trouble with. For people who refuse to switch, iMessage.
I'm only Discord at this point. Over time I've just wanted to stay within a select few platforms for mental health and security. I would move to Matrix but most people I know are on Discord. But I still have an account there incase anyone wants to contact me.
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Element for that one friend who's also privacy conscious Telegram, Discord and Facebook Messenger (yuck) for everyone else.
Telegram, most of my family/friends use iphones but I use android, so I convinced them to use telegram so we can send videos, gifs, pictures, etc.
I use SMS and Matrix. I'd love to see something like Briar become more popular, or maybe XMPP make a resurgence as it's been a great federated chat protocol for a long while.
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Whatsapp and Google Messenger for RCS. I wish other apps could use RCS or I'd use third party.
A mix of FluffyChat (backed by Matrix) and Discord.
I only message my spouse on a regular basis. Been using Signal for the last few years. Otherwise I just stick to iMessage for everything else. I donβt text anyone else that much to try and convince them to switch to Signal or another alternative.
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