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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by unicornBro@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

What encrypted messenger do you use most that isn't Zucking Meta's Whatsapp and Signal?

Edit Also, besides iMessage and RCS. Sorry thanks

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[-] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 32 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Matrix, Briar, SimpleX, Threema

[-] Thorned_Rose@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

I wish I could use Matrix on my phone without it eating my battery 🫤

[-] OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

This is the way.

[-] ckmnstr@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago

I can't even get my social circle to switch from WhatsApp to Signal, let alone anything else. I use Conversations, a feature rich XMPP client for select stuff.

[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago
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[-] hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org 15 points 2 months ago

XMPP with OMEMO?

[-] RheumatoidArthritis@mander.xyz 14 points 2 months ago

Me? XMPP.

Most used? Depends in what circles. Telegram is popular in some. SimpleX and Session in others. XMPP in free software circles. Matrix in others.

[-] Telorand@reddthat.com 13 points 2 months ago

Telegram should not be considered an encrypted solution, due to the opt-in nature of their encryption. The owner regularly collaborates with law enforcement, as well.

[-] trailee@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 months ago
[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 5 points 2 months ago
[-] trailee@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

Signal provides all the privacy I need, and it’s nowhere near as skeezy as most of the alternatives mentioned in the comments here. As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing better, but if OP would like to detail their objections to it, I’d be happy to hear them.

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 4 points 2 months ago

They probably don't feel the need to justify their choice of messengers. If you don't have an answer to OP's question it's probably best to abstain.

[-] tastemyglaive@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I have tried them all, I just use XMPP through Cheogram (mobile) and Movim (desktop in browser) now. I have had success getting my contacts to switch since I never bugged them about any other messengers before. Plus I am willing to follow through with ultimatums of abandonment and they are well aware of that.

If you have any actually normal friends (no offense) you're going to have to use the regular phone network. XMPP has the best phone network gateway, I've bought like five Soprani.ca numbers. No it doesn't encrypt the regular phone network.

Delta/Arcane Chat is cool but due to everyone basically being an admin-level user in the chat, I strictly use it as a home base for real homies. I mainly use it to run one gajillion bots, check my emails, run Mastodon/Misskey fork accounts in one location, and send stuff/WebXDC apps to myself.

You can't seriously replace the social media monopolies or the phone network yet. I even run some Telegrams (don't make fun of me) and control them with the Delta Chat bot. People just need to get used to "backing up" their social graph with secure options, and not just saying whatever pops into their head outside them

[-] Novocirab@feddit.org 12 points 2 months ago
[-] johannes@lemmy.jhjacobs.nl 11 points 2 months ago
[-] shrugal@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

This! With bridges you can even have all your chats from different chat networks in one app.

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[-] ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I may not know much about software development & programming itself however, I feel like I did my part here.

+1 for Linux folks.

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[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Wrong, WhatsApp and iMessage fail to include a libre software license text file. We do not control them, anti-libre software. They ban us from fixing backdoors. Stop repeating their scam.

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[-] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 9 points 2 months ago
[-] spv@lemmy.spv.sh 8 points 2 months ago

matrix. it's not perfect, but it's the least shit option i've found so far. in the poorly paraphrased words of bjarne stroustrup, "there are only two kinds of chat protocols: the ones people complain about, and the ones nobody uses"

[-] hellfire103@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Matrix is the only one I actually use other than the rest.

There is also XMPP, SimpleX, Threema, Briar, cwtch, Tox, and Delta Chat.

[-] evujumenuk@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Just "encrypted"? Probably iMessage.

[-] kipo@lemm.ee 7 points 2 months ago
[-] Telorand@reddthat.com 6 points 2 months ago

Signal. SimpleX is my backup.

[-] pemptago@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with signal?

[-] airikr@lemmy.ml 24 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)
  • Requires a phone number
  • Depends on Big Tech's servers
  • Got founded by the US government
  • Seems to absolutely love Big Tech because they hide the APK download page quite well[1]
  • It's centralized

I use my own Snikket server to communicate with people using OMEMO (Signal Protocol). No phone number requirements, no centralized server, no Big Tech, just you and the people you write with, with your privacy fully intact. Just like in the good old days (as it should be to this days, greedy f*****s).

[1]: signal.org/download > Android redirects you to Google Play Store. signal.org/download/android > Download for Android redirects you to Google Play Store. signal.org/install redirects you to Google Play Store. You'll search "forever" to find the "download APK file" link until you give up and using a search engine: "signal apk".

Not until then you'll find signal.org/android/apk. And when you visit that page, a link to Google Play Store is listed on top, and below it, in the "danger zone", you'll find the APK download button. Yes, exactly, the Signal team wants you to be on the "safe zone" by downloading the app through Google Play Store.

"focus on privacy" my ass. Close to forcing someone to use Big Tech shitty stuff is NOT focus on privacy.

Sorry, rant is over. Now breakfast time.

[-] glitching@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago

how's the chat history with snikket? I had issues with prosody, namely multiple devices coming and going and maintaining the same chat history between all of them, as well when there's a disconnect (device gone forever, new device connects)

just skimmed their confusing web site, it's free for selfhosting, right?

[-] airikr@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago

The chat history is there until you change client/device and got a new set of keys. New encryption keys can't decrypt messages and files sent with a previous keys.

Snikket is FOSS, so yes, it's free when self-hosting :)

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[-] pemptago@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

Thanks for the info! All good points. I'll keep snikket bookmarked for when I'm more competent in my server/self-hosting abilities and revisit how I chat.

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[-] BenchpressMuyDebil@szmer.info 4 points 2 months ago

For example, some people don't like that it's centralized. It's not like e-mail, where you can register with any provider and then cross-communicate. Moxie wrote more about this here

[-] pemptago@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

Understood. Thank you. It'd been some time since I've scrutinized Signal. It was a set-it and forget-it type situation.

[-] glitching@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago

aside from the dogshit UX and the uber reliance on Evilcorp's infra, having more than two devices (I know, shocker in this day and age!), the arduous migration process to a new device, the limited chat history (I think it's 40ish days) and many more.

same way Telegram adamantly refuses to implement E2EE, and not only that, it actively prevents 3rd party devs (a number of clients are FOSS) from implementing it on their own.

both PJ Harvey and durov respond the same way when asked about any of them things - smokescreens, FUD, whataboutisms, etc.

any of them things woulda been acceptable in 2015, here's a PoC looking for funding, limited devs and resources; remember TextSecure and RedPhone? nowadays, they are nothing short of malicious.

[-] communism@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 months ago

What do I use the most or what do people use the most? I use Matrix the most as most of my friends are on it (+ have it bridged with some chats that aren't on Matrix). Then after that SimpleX. I don't know what the most popular encrypted messengers among the general population, except for the ones you listed, are.

[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 months ago

Besides your list? Matrix via element or elementX. I've been test driving arcane chat, which is decent enough, but too new to be widely used enough to really say much.

[-] Churbleyimyam@lemm.ee 5 points 2 months ago

I use Jami and Session. Interested to check out SimpleX Chat though.

[-] nebulaone@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

None of these are verifiably private. SimpleX, Matrix and PGP encrypted messages (you can use any messenger here) are some truly private options.

[-] mechap@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago

I believe matrix can leak metadata.

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[-] commander@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I would guess Telegram if the users hit the toggle wherever it's not default. After what you've listed and Telegram, I'd guess Matrix/Element

[-] Canrith6696@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

iMessage and Threema

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this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2025
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