I’ve come to distrust Matrix, the metadata leaking is one thing but then combine that with the fact that .org is basically the default server and you almost have to federate with it, and they were started as an Amdocs project before spinning off into “the matrix foundation,” and Amdocs is Israeli, and while I don’t have PROOF they’re connected with Mossad I’d rather not chance it.
Plus, the apps all sucked last I used them, Element was the best and it was still buggy as all hell, and the Linux app is just an electron wrapper, and it was too hard to use for most of my “normal” friends (I agree, they should get good, but they do not get good, what should I do hold 'em at gunpoint and install Fedora, my options are limited). And the rooms had such a bad CP spam problem they stopped them from being publically searchable, you (now still?) have to know the room’s addr to join. Even still, with that CP problem, it becomes hard to reccomend family/friends to make an account. I don’t want to see that, I don’t want them to have to see that, and I don’t want them to think I want to see that and judge me because of spam in the RasPi room because I’m the guy that recommended the app, I don’t need that in my life.
Signal requiring phone numbers is also not my favorite, and the single point of failure is not the best either. Better than Matrix imo, but still. Also last I used it they still supported SMS and when a contact would delete Signal without deleting their account, the message would still try to deliver through Signal instead of defaulting back to SMS, so I’d have to switch my default to Messenger every time I wanted to talk to them and back to Signal when I was done. That was annoying.
Now happily using Delta Chat, easy onboarding for “normals,” low (no?) metadata leaks, webXDC seems cool, p2p video/audio calling, multi-relay support for resiliency, groups (but anyone can kick anyone, they’re meant for known contacts or family more than matrix-like rooms), no discoverability so nobody gets your acct by just having your phone number or etc (so my friend doesn’t have to worry about their abusive ex finding them on it like on IG or Snapchat), due to those last two things it doesn’t seem to have the same CP problem as Matrix rooms, channels are pretty neat, you can share location for increments between 30min and 24hr, bunch of cool stuff!
Ehhhh idk, afaik jury’s still out on that, but imo “could be.”
That’s partly why I use Delta Chat instead actually. Only partly, but it makes the list.
Even still, gun to my head, I think I’m picking Signal over Matrix as far as who I trust a little more. Not that I trust either entirely, and DC I trust more than both of those, but there’s always the possibility of some vulnerability if not a full backdoor. At least DC is FOSS and decentralized, I honestly doubt there’s a “backdoor,” but never know who has a 0-day.
The CIA financed Signal (I believe they stopped a few years ago), however that was never really secret. It also happened in simpler times, in the earlier days of internet and mobile phones. In general it’s quite plausible that the CIA just wanted a really secure comms system that people they wanted to undermine regimes could use.
Contrast this with how the FBI and the Australian feds bankrolled Anomphones, which they then used to read the communications of criminals. That was kept secret until they were ready to brag about it.
I’ve come to distrust Matrix, the metadata leaking is one thing but then combine that with the fact that .org is basically the default server and you almost have to federate with it, and they were started as an Amdocs project before spinning off into “the matrix foundation,” and Amdocs is Israeli, and while I don’t have PROOF they’re connected with Mossad I’d rather not chance it.
Plus, the apps all sucked last I used them, Element was the best and it was still buggy as all hell, and the Linux app is just an electron wrapper, and it was too hard to use for most of my “normal” friends (I agree, they should get good, but they do not get good, what should I do hold 'em at gunpoint and install Fedora, my options are limited). And the rooms had such a bad CP spam problem they stopped them from being publically searchable, you (now still?) have to know the room’s addr to join. Even still, with that CP problem, it becomes hard to reccomend family/friends to make an account. I don’t want to see that, I don’t want them to have to see that, and I don’t want them to think I want to see that and judge me because of spam in the RasPi room because I’m the guy that recommended the app, I don’t need that in my life.
Signal requiring phone numbers is also not my favorite, and the single point of failure is not the best either. Better than Matrix imo, but still. Also last I used it they still supported SMS and when a contact would delete Signal without deleting their account, the message would still try to deliver through Signal instead of defaulting back to SMS, so I’d have to switch my default to Messenger every time I wanted to talk to them and back to Signal when I was done. That was annoying.
Now happily using Delta Chat, easy onboarding for “normals,” low (no?) metadata leaks, webXDC seems cool, p2p video/audio calling, multi-relay support for resiliency, groups (but anyone can kick anyone, they’re meant for known contacts or family more than matrix-like rooms), no discoverability so nobody gets your acct by just having your phone number or etc (so my friend doesn’t have to worry about their abusive ex finding them on it like on IG or Snapchat), due to those last two things it doesn’t seem to have the same CP problem as Matrix rooms, channels are pretty neat, you can share location for increments between 30min and 24hr, bunch of cool stuff!
Isn’t Signal a CIA honeypot?
Ehhhh idk, afaik jury’s still out on that, but imo “could be.”
That’s partly why I use Delta Chat instead actually. Only partly, but it makes the list.
Even still, gun to my head, I think I’m picking Signal over Matrix as far as who I trust a little more. Not that I trust either entirely, and DC I trust more than both of those, but there’s always the possibility of some vulnerability if not a full backdoor. At least DC is FOSS and decentralized, I honestly doubt there’s a “backdoor,” but never know who has a 0-day.
The CIA financed Signal (I believe they stopped a few years ago), however that was never really secret. It also happened in simpler times, in the earlier days of internet and mobile phones. In general it’s quite plausible that the CIA just wanted a really secure comms system that people they wanted to undermine regimes could use.
Contrast this with how the FBI and the Australian feds bankrolled Anomphones, which they then used to read the communications of criminals. That was kept secret until they were ready to brag about it.
My understanding is that the CIA also funds TOR, because they want to use TOR.