Signal
Element as matrix client. It has some bugs and glitches but is the current best matrix client and the matrix protocol is the best communication protocol i know.
Why do you think it is the best protocol?
The protocol is open and well documented, it is fast, you can transmit everything from Voice over IP to IoT, it works decentralised and supports end-to-end encryption.
https://spec.matrix.org/latest/ Here ist the specification website if you want to read more
I recently started beta-testing Beeper. I was on the hunt/wait for a nice to use client that would be finally able to get all my messengers into a single window for a very very long time (when all my massaging was through XMPP, ICQ and Skype I used to use Trillian), and it is almost it: Telrgram, WhatsApp, SMS and Discord DMs/chat channels in a single app/window.
Keep in mind I value convinience over privacy, but still am mindful about what I send where. Beeper server is not open source, but their bridges are (and encrypt messages before sending to server), and you are able to self host them, I saw in community chat room that some people do that for Signal, so everything is E2E encrypted on hardware under user control.
In the current times Signal is the only viable way on mobile. On PC Matrix is a good alternative for chatrooms with friends.
Why Signal over other alternatives like Telegram?
Signal is mainly used by the people I communicate with. The Founder of Signal is also a known Computer Security expert. The signal protocol itself is also used by WhatsApp, Google Messages and Faccebook Messages.
I just had a look at the telegram privacy policy (https://telegram.org/privacy#8-who-your-personal-data-may-be-shared-with) and compared to signals privacy policy (https://signal.org/legal/) telegrams policy is just not for me.
Whats wrong with Telegram one?
Their company construct and data sharing within that construct just doesn’t align with my values.
It isn’t e2e encrypted. I think they use some form of roll your own encryption and the server theoretically can access the messages. Signal is just better from a privacy perspective.
Signal for private and Whatsapp for work.
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I’m pretty sure it doesn’t use e2e encryption. I think they have their own roll your own encryption that theoretically the server can access the content of your messages. No thanks.
I also like it, IMO it has the best balance between privacy and cool features
It has no encryption by default.
True, but it doesn’t take a genius to start an e2e message. It’s really easy.
I should have specified that it doesn’t have E2E encryption by default, because transport encryption is absolutely standard and there’s no messenger that doesn’t have it.
I said “by default” because while secret chats are end-to-end encrypted, they aren’t the default.
