Beeper breaks e2e. Only use it with caution
Edit: I don't want to discredit beeper, it's just what it is. As long as you know what you do, e.g. no nudes, everything is fine - it's still matrix.
this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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Beeper bridges break E2EE. Encrypted Beeper <-> Matrix messages remain encrypted.
Does it though? Not seeing anything about it
@Display Name@lemmy.ml is right, confirmed via their official FAQs: https://www.beeper.com/faq#how-does-beeper-connect-to-encrypted-chat-networks-like-imessage-signal-whatsapp
When sending and receiving Signal, iMessage and WhatsApp messages, Beeper's web service acts as a relay. For example, if you send a message from Beeper to a friend on WhatsApp, the message is encrypted on your Beeper client, sent to the Beeper web service, which decrypts and re-encrypts the message with WhatsApp's proprietary encryption protocol.
I don't know how tech savy you are but I selfhost Matrix and almost exclusively use bridges to talk with friends. I feel comfortable breaking e2e on a system I control and the all-in-one-place messaging is pretty sweet, like Pidgin used to be.
If you are already comfortable self-hosting other services, Matrix doesn't really impose any additional complexity IMO and the bridges I use seem to be very stable.
That's an interesting idea. I self host a bunch of things, but I don't think I'd wanna go through the trouble here. Maybe some day I might explore it.
Yes, you may read more here https://matrix.org/ecosystem/bridges/ or https://docs.mau.fi/bridges/general/end-to-bridge-encryption.html as an example. This has to happen first for e2e arewemlsyet.com/
Thanks!
I updated the comment with three links in total. The last link is the most important one I guess
I'm seeing one link and the start of a second
Https://arewemlsyet.com
So can I use this to join my family's group chat because they all have iphones and refuse to use anything but Imessage...
Yes, but they'll have to add you to the group chat using your Apple ID instead of your primary phone number unless you use one of the "workarounds" to get your number attached to iMessage.
https://airmessage.org/help/guide/phone-number
The workarounds listed are for Airmessage but they apply to Beeper as well in terms of getting your phone number attached. I've been using method #1 successfully for about a month now.
Ah so not as useful as I was hoping but still pretty neat. Thanks for the information!
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The way they got iMessage to work is by hiring a Foss developer who did something pretty amazing:
They reverse engineered the iMessage protocol and emulated parts of macOS that are necessary when registering an iMessage account on a device!!
Man, I have been loving Beeper so far.
Alas, until they open it up more, it's kinda useless for anyone that isn't already using it
No, it's very useful. They open-sourced the bridge, so you can easily add it to your own Matrix server: https://github.com/mautrix/gmessages/tree/main
What I mean is that there's a "waiting list" to use the app.
Trad means that if you aren't already using it, the new features aren't useful yet.
I could probably have just said "anyone scrolling, be aware that there's a wait to use the app" to be a bit more clear.
How do you mean? I'm actually kinda interested since I have friends on WhatsApp and Signal. Seems like it would make things more convenient by combining both messengers.
Is there a downside I'm missing?
Edit: they break E2E encryption for forwarding, so no dice :( https://www.beeper.com/faq#how-does-beeper-connect-to-encrypted-chat-networks-like-imessage-signal-whatsapp
I don't see any downside, especially since it is mostly open source, so you can make your own server if you want. You'll get Element and Synapse rather than Beeper's fork, but it works well.
There is that, but I meant that they are apparently weeks to months behind on their waiting list for new users. I've been on the list for a month now
Is Google's RCS open? Last I heard, it was still limited to Google Messages, but it's been a long time since I've paid attention.
Yeah good point actually... I'm still holding a little hope for RCS to finally be added to Textra someday so I can go back to that instead of Google Messages...
RCS has open spec, but implemanting it means dealing with phone networks and their policy. Also limiting operating systems like Android and iOS and a blocking factor.
No need to push it. Good old XMPP is better in every single way and exists since 1999. No tied to phone number, stable, proven, available on any device, with encrypted group calls and easy to host yourself.
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I'm still waiting for apple to cut it off.
They have their own iMessage.
Their own imessage?
I avoid these multiple app messaging apps like the plague. Jack of all trades, master of none.
It's pretty good and it gives me iMessage on Android. Super useful.
Anyone know what the beeper monetization model is? This is super cool, but I'm not sure how the company intends to monetize this, which always makes me a bit nervous
In the future there are going to be certain features behind a "Beeper Plus" paywall. https://blog.beeper.com/p/beeper-is-now-free
Thats super helpful, thanks for the link!
Looks like freemium: https://www.beeper.com/faq#how-much-does-beeper-cost-to-use
Very helpful, thank you for the link!