What If: Signal Was Part of the Fediverse? (signal.org)

submitted 1 year ago by mossy_capivara@midwest.social to c/fediverse@lemmy.world

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Anyone else wondering?

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[-] gelberhut@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago

Well, matrix, does not require your phone. You, theoretically, can selfhost a matrix server.

On the other hand, one can say that signal provides same level of e2e encryption and protection as WhatsApp, right?

[-] poop 5 points 1 year ago

"theoretically" being the operative word here. Most people don't. And if they did, they wouldn't be able to talk to anyone else without the metadata getting copied to that person's server. Probably okay if it's between two information security experts who operate their secure own servers, but in reality most people don't do that. This could be summarized as: Matrix offers a lot of easy ways to be less secure, Signal does not.

As for WhatsApp, I know they have paid or maybe still do pay Signal for their encryption. I believe Facebook Messenger did or does as well. I'm not sure what the actual implementation looks like and neither is anyone else, because it's closed source.

[-] gelberhut@lemdro.id 1 points 1 year ago

Agree.

On the other hand, matrix offers anonymous chat, while signal requires a phone number. What software is really executed on signal servers knows only signal's team - so, it is still, a matter of trust.

Signal also not good in cross device usage.

It looks there is no ideal options

[-] poop 3 points 1 year ago

But that’s not what’s being said here. In this post people op is asking for federated Signal. People are saying matrix is just as secure. This is wrong and I am pointing that out so people don’t go thinking this is correct. Making misleading statements about the security of this sort of thing is dangerous.