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Signal is not the place for top secret communications, but it might be the right choice for you – a cybersecurity expert on what to look for in a secure messaging app (theconversation.com)

submitted 6 days ago by florencia to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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[-] Termight@lemmy.ml 13 points 6 days ago

Here are two reasons you might not want to use Signal: Your contacts, your settings, your entire Signal experience is tied to a Signal account managed by Signal. Metadata—who you’re talking to, when, and how often—can still be collected and analyzed. Question everything.

[-] sqgl@beehaw.org 14 points 5 days ago

"The only metadata that Signal would have access to, is the phone number used to register, the date of initial registration, and the date of last use."

https://www.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/exd92f/what_kind_of_usermessage_metadata_is_observed_and/

[-] specialwall@midwest.social 11 points 5 days ago

The issue of centralization can be a problem, but in regards to metadata, sealed sender does a lot to prevent Signal's servers from knowing who messages who, which makes Signal a lot more private than described here.

[-] quincunx@lemm.ee 4 points 5 days ago

So use no messenger? Any decentralized options?

[-] sqgl@beehaw.org 7 points 5 days ago

SimpleX is decentralized, requires no phone number, based on Signal code. Screws up invitations via FB/Messenger though.

[-] HotCoffee@lemm.ee 4 points 5 days ago

Salute fellow simplex enjoyer 🗿

[-] quincunx@lemm.ee 1 points 5 days ago

Thank you

[-] Termight@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

So use no messenger? Any decentralized options?

Alternatives to Signal that prioritize decentralized communication.

Briar Project (https://briarproject.org/ ): A compelling choice for censorship resistance. Briar employs peer-to-peer messaging, connecting via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Tor, and incorporates privacy features by design. It’s a robust solution for those concerned about surveillance.
Delta Chat (https://delta.chat/ ): A decentralized and secure messenger application. It's often praised for its ease of use and integration with existing email accounts.
XMPP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XMPP ): Less of an application and more of a foundational protocol. XMPP is an open standard for instant messaging, allowing for decentralized implementations – though setting up and maintaining such a system requires a degree of technical expertise.

this post was submitted on 27 Mar 2025

521 points (100.0% liked)

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