decrypt

The primary and only advantage that I can think of is, personalized addresses. It's better to have one's address as `@james:potter.family` instead of `@james:potter.ems.host`, where `potter.family` is my custom domain.

Accounts on their Element Home plan can work on Android and iOS apps too. It's just that copying over data from a different homeserver to this new homeserver is possible only on the desktop app at the moment.

Nickel is one of their existing plans, and Home is their new plan. Both offer the same features, except that Nickel offers an ability to use custom domains and is aimed at businesses. More on their pricing page [1]

[1] https://element.io/pricing

Are they actively using Signal though? I am struggling with mine, where conversations still happen on WhatsApp.

This title in this article is aimed at generating clicks. The flaw that's described here applies to all other apps, including Google Chrome, Telegram, WhatsApp, literally any app on your phone.

Telegram private chats are not end-to-end encrypted. They are opt-in, in the name of "secret chats". If that's not done, chats are stored on their cloud in plain view. While Signal can offer synced end-to-end encrypted messaging, I wonder why Telegram cannot. Probably comes with a few tradeoffs like slowness and loss of features?

I used to like Telegram for their cloud sync as well, but Signal does an equally nice job (at least for me!) in syncing my chats across all devices. The messages are end-to-end encrypted too, unlike Telegram. It has become the standard for me.

Same. I have been using Tresorit Send [1] and Visée's (developer of ffsend CLI tool) Firefox Send instance [2] in the meantime. Visée is also looking for donations [3] to support hosting of that instance.

[1] https://send.tresorit.com

[2] https://send.visee.com

[3] https://gitlab.com/timvisee/ffsend/-/issues/100#note_3763163...

I thought support for replies was available for a long time. Happy SimpleLogin [1] customer here, which has a pricing similar to that of AnonAddy's highest tier.

[1] https://simplelogin.io

1. No, been around for over six months. Possibly longer, but I got access sometime between June and August.

2. That may be a good questions for developers at #firefox-relay:mozilla.org (Matrix room)

3. It has come up in a few tweets in the past, but 1Password does not seem to have any plans for now. I use SimpleLogin browser extensions, and 1Password neatly picks up that alias address from my signup form.

One still has to enter a mobile number to sign up for that Google account. But the larger difference is, that account would still be a standalone email address, which just happens to forward to your main Gmail address. But Firefox Relay (and similar products, like AnonAddy and SimpleLogin) are alias services. The idea with these services is to create addresses that can be immediately blocked, if they get into the hands of spammers. I am a happy SimpleLogin customer, and have made as many as 200 addresses. AnonAddy is a great start too, for those that need unlimited addresses. Both allow responding from those addresses, while AnonAddy's count is less.

Same situation in my circles two weeks ago, but the hype has died. Folks are back on WhatsApp. Some even moved to Telegram, which is a downgrade from WhatsApp, in terms of privacy. Signal's ranking on the app charts has fallen as well, that it's below the top 10 list.

Desktop app is designed to work even without having your mobile Signal app active. It's a standalone app in itself.

This is partially incorrect.

Signal's desktop does not require the mobile app to be active. Differently put, the desktop app does not depend on the mobile app's state. Mobile can be switched off/in airplane/far away from your physical location, but Signal desktop can continue to work.

For WhatsApp, the chats on desktop are e2ee too, but require the mobile phone to be active/online.

For Telegram, secret chats initiated on the desktop remain on that desktop app. They are not synchronized to the mobile apps.

The previous thread is incorrect. Signal desktop can work despite having the mobile phone active. That's the key advantage over Telegram and WhatsApp. Telegram's secret chats are not synchronized. Neither is WhatsApp's, and even worse, WhatsApp's desktop-based chat is just a projected copy of mobile. In other words, WhatsApp's desktop version works as long as mobile is active/is connected to the internet.

This is incorrect. Signal desktop can continue to work without having Signal mobile active. My mobile phone is on airplane mode and is being charged at the moment, but I am on a call with my colleague using Signal desktop. They are on Signal mobile.

It's commonly misquoted that WhatsApp data will be shared with Facebook, but the Signal protocol for WhatsApp personal chats remains as is. It's the WhatsApp user-business communication that will be visible on third-party interfaces, like Facebook. It's in this process the e2ee aspect of the chat is lost. [1]

Overall, WhatsApp still remains a safe platform for 1:1 communications and group chats, but there are still many other factors that could be sold by Facebook, including location data, contact info, online status, and other aspects of the platform.

Durov did announce plans to offer more features for premium customers. [2] Hopefully that will help offset their hosting/development costs, without them succumbing to data selling practices.

[1] https://gizmodo.com/this-was-whatsapps-plan-all-along-184606...

[2] https://t.me/durov/142

It's important to me that I use e2ee that can sync between devices. Signal is a natural choice for my needs.

WhatsApp/Signal and Telegram are completely different platforms. The formers focus on end-to-end encrypted conversations, while Telegram focuses on speed, functionality, and security. While I appreciate their open-source client apps and promise for offering a secure chat experience, it doesn't change that their chats (1:1 non-secret chats and group chats) are not end-to-end encrypted. WhatsApp and Signal are superior solutions in comparison.

Edit to add: My point being, with their focuses (at least Signal's) being on offering end-to-end encrypted communication, it feels normal that they are not able to focus efforts on improving client experience. Hopefully something that they are able to achieve in the coming months.

They hope to publish that in the coming days. Here's Moxie's tweet about it. [1]

[1] https://twitter.com/moxie/status/1350651382659903488

They are powered by donations [1]

Brian Acton, co-founder of WhatsApp, who left Facebook post WhatsApp acquisition, infused 50M USD too. [2] I hear he lent another 50M with 0% interest, repayable by 2068. [3]

[1] https://signal.org/donate

[2] https://www.wired.com/story/signal-foundation-whatsapp-brian...

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_Foundation

From what I understand, this affects only Android devices, thus the Android 5.2.1 rollout. None for iOS.

It has been down for roughly 90 minutes at my end. Previous thread - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25792136

Acknowledged here:

https://twitter.com/signalapp/status/1350118809860886528

https://community.signalusers.org/t/signal-service-outage-on...

Similar reports on reddit as well - https://www.reddit.com/r/signal/comments/kxwa7r/signal_down/

Usernames are coming in 2021. As of now, it's not necessary to use your actual mobile number to signup though. It's well possible to use a virtual number like Google Voice, and even landline numbers work! By "other non-phone devices", were you referring to Signal on front-end-less platforms like Raspberry Pi CLI?

I agree on the pressure part. I promoted Signal within my extended family extended a couple of days ago, no response, but one or two did move. I wanted to try again, but was worried about not getting any responses once again. Statuses can be a great fit here. It's more like my blog where I can publish content without the pressure of others not reading it, modify as necessary and take down as necessary.

I didn't even know Zom was a thing. I thought they meant Zoom.

Brian Acton, WhatsApp co-founder, one who left Facebook post-acquisition, infused 50M USD into Signal. And, Signal is community-supported through donations. I hope that Signal remains here for a long time.

I remember paying a dollar to use WhatsApp for an year. I wish it remained independent and subscription-supported.