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103

PoC - Use Matrix instead of emails for logins (codeberg.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago by TheOfficial@programming.dev to c/programming@programming.dev

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I wrote a proof of concept that allows the user to sign up to a service using their matrix ID e.g @user:server.test. The user then receives an activation link in an encrypted room from the service. It worked quite easily and within 2 days of fumbling around with the matrix SDK in python and FastAPI, here we are.

This has been in my head for a while and I just wanted to see if it's possible (the proof is in the ~~pudding~~ code). Emails are insecure and national services are starting to implement communication services on top of matrix. It's a not inconceivable that citizens might get a government issued Matrix account and communicate safely with the government over a secure protocol. Why not allow other services to do the same?

Imagine if instead of providing your email address for signing up to services you used matrix instead. Your host wouldn't be able to read your messages and it could replace things like 2FA codes over SMS, activation links in emails, or health documents from your doctor's CMS in your email inbox.

Should there be enough time, I'd like to try and contribute this login method to forgejo (the software behind codeberg that's hosting this repository), but let's see. First it would take learning go 😅

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[–] erebion@news.erebion.eu 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Proticols dont do any thing. Platforms/implementations do

Protocols ensure interoperability between implementations, platforms are not necessary. XMPP works just fine without it.

there are extentions that support e2e, I was just saying that is core to Matrix spec and thus every implementation.

No, there are many implementations that in fact do not support E2EE and also many that cannot keep up with the many protocol changes.

Heck, I’d think Matrix, Nostr, and XMPP would better than email, which itself is better than shudders propritary “social” media, or plutocrat accounts like Google, Apple, or Microsoft.

I partly agree. Email has issues, but largely works. Proprietary "social" media is just hell. I haven't looked into Nostr yet, but am going to. Matrix is slow, XMPP has proven to work well for a while, it has been around since 1999 after all. It is extensible, which means you can make it work just as well in the future.

Not a fan of Matrix in particular, but I guess it's still better than Facebook, but that's not a high bar.

[–] fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

What Matrix servers and clients don't support e2ee?

[–] fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 weeks ago

I mean out of date software is going to lose compatabilty with encryption.