Matrix / element
this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2024
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Privacy
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To expand with my personal experience, I self host a synapse server partly for the reason that i want my children (aged 8-14 now) to have a communication platform they can access to get ahold of me with out requireing a sim card. I do not federate, and i do not allow account sign ups. That keeps a pretty isolated instance while still allowing everyone on that homeserver to be able to talk to each other.
I help them get Element setup on each device. I dont think this is overly complicated, but i am sure i am a horrible judge of complexity... They have to enter the url of the server, then their password, then they need to scan a qr code/verify from an existing device. Or, they need to enter a second passcode to verify their identity. I help them keep those secrets in bitwarden, so imo, that complexity is an opportunity to explain some opsec and encryption!
Jabber (XMPP) or Matrix/Element.
Https://snikket.org will get you started with XMPP easily.
Conversations on Android and Siskin on iOS.
One non-techie parent has Siskin running on their iPhone and it hasn't skipped a beat in years of messaging using omemo-encrypted XMPP. For servers, they're on tigase.im and I'm on conversations.im.
Here's a guide on optimum siskin settings; I don't know if defaults are better now or not.
Conversations.im is free on fdroid but it's well worth paying something to the developer directly.
My friends and I all use Simplex and have been very happy. There's an annoying feature where messages in group chats are sometimes delivered out of order, but it's easy enough to live with.
"I remember my uncle, he used to force us to use some janky app to talk to him because he was afraid of the big corporations spying on him"
Except they literally do. It's even acknowledged in the mainstream media.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/technology/snowden-spying-big-tech.html
What's frightening is that people more or less agree with this, but they have apathy to the point of making up excuses for it. Humanity is remarkably adaptable, and if they can adapt to supporting slavery or genocide, they will and they still do. Never mind things that are less terrible.
Sadly, I agree.
Oh so that's why you don't have a brain chip lma.... (wait 5 seconds to skip ad)... o
Try SimpleX chat.
Edit: or session
SimpleX.
XMPP.
Threema.
Matrix.
Matrix would be good ig.
https://simplex.chat/ is probably the best option today
The app is great and the server is very easy to self host.
You can use a voip/sms service to register with the traditional messaging apps: signal, telegram, etc
I.e. google voice, or https://kycnot.me/search?q=sms&type=
Though I think :
Matrix, simplex, and briar are good options that don't need sms at all
Signal v7 with username IDs is right around the corner. I'd suggest you wait a few weeks if you can.
I'd love to see data to the contrary, but I believe even with username IDs, they will still want phone number verification. I.e. like telegram does
We'll see in a few weeks time; hence my recommendation to wait a little ;)
It has been in beta for a while now and it still does require a SIM for registration.
We'll see in a few weeks time
It's coming in a few weeks? Source?!
I've been waiting for Signal usernames for a long time
"Update UI for PNP launch megaphone." is pretty unmistakable ;)
We don't know how long it'll be exactly but "a few weeks" is a good assumption here.
Threema.
It costs $5 dollars, so you’re less likely to be the product. Highly private. Includes some open source code. Audited. Android and iOS. Doesn’t require phone number.
Here are the settings I recommend during first setup: Tap next instead of making a Threema Safe password Tap next instead of entering your phone number Turn off “Sync contacts”
I've used a self hosted Nextcloud for that. It's not great but it worked well enough that I didn't bother looking for better alternatives. I'm sure there are more options out there.
Hmmmm.. I already have a nextcloud instance running... This is probably the most frictionless option for me...
I'll look into NC talk on iphone for her. Thanks!
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FYI, last week someone saw that Signal merged in code for username (no phone number) support. So it might not be long until you see a beta release which allows you to sign up without a phone number.
With Signal you only need a SIM card to register the account via the Signal app on the phone. You can receive the SMS for registering on another phone. After registering you can simply use Signal over WiFi. If this is too difficult, XMPP with a good OMEMO client for E2EE is an option. Easiest to install and start with is perhaps DeltaChat, E2EE chat via email : https://delta.chat/en/ You only need to learn what to do if the E2EE is not working right away. They have a FAQ and hints in the app.
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You can also try Jami.
jisti, nextcloud talk, element matrix ...go big: IRC
Would be so cool if my kids and nieces/nephews used IRC!!
It's like $100 for a whole year of phone service through someone like RedPocket (an MVNO, which uses AT&T and T-Mobile towers; so - any GSM phone)
I think Signal is close to being able to be used without a phone number.
Signal is no longer requiring phone numbers as of V7, so you could just wait for that to get released.
Still need a phone number to register. Then after that, you can give out your username to others without revealing your phone number
Session, but if you're really paranoid ofc.
I'm too paranoid to use Session. They took a perfectly acceptable app with perfectly good forward security, broke the perfect forward secrecy, and put it back together with duct tape.
And they just happen to be in a country that requires you break encryption protocols if they are too good.
Coincidence? I don't know. But I don't think I trust their software since they just took someone else's and made it less safe.
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I'm aware of the community this is posted in, but my kid talks to her grandparents via the chat features in Google photos. Works over WiFi with specific contacts and no phone number required. It lets her show them pictures she's drawn.
Google are involved of course, but there's no algorithm pushing promoted posts or any of that BS
Wow, I am so so much against your suggestion, but I have to upvote you, for your bravery.
To add something constructive: The app Element as a Matrix client works good for me.
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