this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2025
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Time to get serious with E2E encrypted messaging (techcrunch.com)
submitted 9 hours ago by Morys@lemmy.ml to c/technology@lemmy.world
57 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I currently use Telegram for my friends and family, but have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the UK Government is either reaching agreement for backdoors with messaging services, or is trying its hardest to.

I'm also on Element/Matrix. Before I try to get my contacts to join me on there, should I be aware of any privacy issues or is that a good place to head?

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[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 16 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (2 children)

Signal requires a phone number on setup.

It is dumb and annoying and inconvenient but doesn't affect its use or privacy.

I do agree that SimpleX seems like the best chat option.

[–] AnotherDirtyAnglo@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

It creates a cost for spammers. They have to have an account with a Telco, which isn't free, which in a lot of countries comes with some sort of National ID to register. That's the reason.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

No they don't, you can sign up with a VoIP provider.

[–] fangleone2526@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

It affects its use for me definitely. I don't want to have a phone number. At all.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 6 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

How do you even exist without a phone number. How do you get cellular data? Does the government not require you to have one? Your employer? What about all the services that require one?

[–] fangleone2526@lemmy.world -1 points 4 hours ago

To be clear, I have a phone number, but I do not WANT to have one. Most aspects of my life I have removed my phone number from. There are still a few services ( like signal! ) which requires one, and I cope. Cellular data is also something worth avoiding, from a privacy perspective. It is very possible to live a life where you're never very far from wifi, especially in a city. I do not currently do this, but would love to one day.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I have to wonder if you could use a burner number and just disable it after setting up your username

[–] mipadaitu@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I think you'd have a theoretical issue if the next person who got that number also tried to set up a signal account.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 1 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

You might be right. I'll have to go double check, but I don't think that you can just set up a new account with the same number without the password you set up.

I might be wrong, though.