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[return to "Signal app downloads spike as US protesters seek message encryption"]
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1. matheu+X2[view] [source] 2020-06-05 02:30:43
>>pera+(OP)
I hope one day apps like Signal will be the default for everyone, not just protesters in a time of crisis.
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2. technt+Lb[view] [source] 2020-06-05 04:04:37
>>matheu+X2
The Signal app experience leaves a lot to be desired compared to Telegram or Matrix.
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3. themod+Vb[view] [source] 2020-06-05 04:07:25
>>technt+Lb
I was about to ask about this. Signal was comparatively annoying. Can I keep using Telegram or am I postponing the inevitable? Curious.
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4. goneho+4i[view] [source] 2020-06-05 05:31:56
>>themod+Vb
Is Telegram at all trustworthy?

I feel like I’ve repeatedly seen on HN that they’re not a good choice for secure messaging (though I don’t remember the specifics around it).

Signal and Matrix are the two options I’ve settled on.

[Edit]: Looks like the main issues with Telegram are that it doesn't use end to end encryption by default and that they rolled their own encryption protocol that's likely not secure. They also used to leak a ton of metadata, but from searching around it looks like they may have made improvements. Either way seems like something to avoid when there are obviously better alternatives.

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5. AnonC+Ul[view] [source] 2020-06-05 06:21:44
>>goneho+4i
Telegram's homegrown crypto has been dismissed by many people (including experts). But it offers privacy features that some other messengers do not. Is Signal trustworthy considering that it exposes your phone number to everyone else in groups? With Telegram it's possible to communicate with anyone without revealing your phone number or profile picture or anything else.
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6. goneho+xm[view] [source] 2020-06-05 06:30:13
>>AnonC+Ul
The phone number issue is pretty overblown since it's a clear and intentional tradeoff that allows signal to retain very little metadata (leveraging local phone contacts instead of sending your social graph to their servers like everyone else). Moxie Marlinspike is the founder/co-author of the protocol and Brian Acton put in massive funding after the FB/Whatsapp fallout - not sure you can get better than that?

They're also making moves to make the phone number requirement unnecessary. What privacy features does Telegram have? It sounds like they don't even have encryption on by default and people have also dismissed their security? Why would anyone use them?

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