Telegram update introduces support for importing WhatsApp chats - Ghacks Technology News
Telegram update introduces support for importing WhatsApp chats - Ghacks Technology News |
| Telegram update introduces support for importing WhatsApp chats - Ghacks Technology News Posted: 28 Jan 2021 10:43 PM PST This sounds good for people who want to switch from Whatsapp to Telegram for obvious reasons. But people should stop putting these companies on a pedestal and stop trusting them. Someone already even mentioned Signal, which was banned in Iran few days ago. First problem? they are centralized, so you have to trust the server, the company, really believe nobody has access to your information, etc etc. Especially with Telegram where you can even compose a message on a device and finish on another device etc. People shouldn't trust Pavlov Durov only because of the supposedly drama with the Russian government. It could be a simple act to easily get people information, it's not like he is not a Russian oligarch after all who got some training on propaganda at University. BUT maybe He is a good guy who is trying to make the world better, or let's pretend he is. It doesn't mean his service is perfect and will protect you or you are safe using it. 1. The E2EE is not even on by default and it is not like used everywhere on the app. Of course today, if you want to make video and audio calls without using facebook or google or Mcrosoft services, your best choice could probably be Telegram. But I wouldn't trust the app. Same with Signal, you can make calls, but it is even worst since you even have to have a phone AND the phone number to use the Desktop app. Of course there are apps that are decentralized and I hope they improve and eventually replace these centralized services that have control of your data. Just asking for a phone number is too much since most places will want to have your ID to get sim card in order for you to "switch companies and keep your number" and reasons like that, which technically are good, but then you are traceable and easy to find and you are not anonymous anymore. There are apps like Session, onion routing app made by Oxen team (previously called Loki), they also have Lokinet (probably will be rebranded soon) which is better than Tor. But it is anonymous, private and secure messenger, decentralized and everything gets stored on each person's device, which means, only people who has access to your phone can have access to the info, your information doesn't exist outside it. Session still doesn't support video or audio calls, but they say they are working on it thanks to the lokinet future integration, it won't be perfect because of the nature of onion routing but it will be private and all that. And session has improved quite a lot in the last months, Private Groups were 10 people max, then 20 and now 100, multi device support will be available soon so you can get your conversation on two devices. For more stable decentralize apps to do videocalls I would recommend P2P apps like Jami or Tox also are nice, of course Tox's problem is that its mobile apps are not in a good state, so Jami is more recommended. But it is P2P so your IP will be easily known by the other person, so I would only use it with known people, not with strangers unless you use a VPN. But Jami is working on swarm chat which will allow multi device support to get a message on both devices and groups. There is an app called Berty that is being developed that seems interesting too, like a P2P but it will be able to use bluetooth and all to connect with others so even if internet gets censored or is not available you can chat with others. But decentralized communication apps is the future with all these dumb censorship and people wanting it because they were brainwashed to believe it is the right thing to do because 'words hurt' or whatever. So we need to find and support services that will not have any control over our data in their servers. Telegram server side is closed source, other claim their server code is open source like Signal but…. can you trust that the code they have on their server is the one they claim they have? Plus with the history of Signal and how it was born you can be suspicious who is really behind it, same with Telegram, just like you are with Facebook and Google and Microsoft. It is still good, and I hope Telegram is not like some double agent company. But I would still not trust it because it is too much marketing and looking at all the encryption and how secure it is and all that, it is not the best, not even that better than Whatsapp on many things. So I would only recommend it for the calls you can make today, but I hope for decentralized services to improve and replace telegram, signal, whatsapp, etc etc.  |
| The best WhatsApp alternatives for 2021 - Tom's Guide Posted: 20 Jan 2021 12:00 AM PST Chances are you've been thinking about the best WhatsApp alternatives in recent weeks. The service has been in the news a lot recently, down to the fact it announced a change to its privacy policy that people were not happy about. Reports that WhatsApp was forcing users to start sharing data with Facebook, with no option to opt out, lead to the rampant spreading of rumors and speculation across social media. Those new frightening privacy labels on the Apple App Store probably didn't help matters either. WhatsApp insisted nothing was really changing, with the main brunt of the new policy offering more transparency over what data it was already sharing with Facebook. Data from conversations with businesses would now be shared, but that was about it and wouldn't affect anyone who didn't do any of that. The contents of encrypted messages or your contacts list wouldn't be visible to WhatsApp or Facebook, and users in the U.K. and EU were totally exempt thanks to local data protection laws. Originally this new policy would come into force on February 8, but WhatsApp has since pushed it back to May 15, purportedly to give everyone time to read it and understand what was going on. But the damage was already done, and we've since seen millions of people flee to rival services. But where do you go if you're leaving WhatsApp? There are a lot of encrypted messaging services out there, and it's not always easy to figure out which one is right for you. But we're here to help. If you're hell bent on leaving WhatsApp, these are the best WhatsApp alternatives you can download right now Signal
Signal is one of the most obvious choices for the more privacy and security conscious. The messaging service has endorsements from the likes of Elon Musk and Edward Snowden — with the latter crediting its security conscious approach for him still being alive. Not only is Signal completely free, it also supports text messaging and voice, video and group calling. Messages can be set to self-destruct, and you can use a Chrome browser plugin if you'd rather send your messages from a desktop machine instead. Here's our tutorial on how to use Signal. Signal's open-source end-to-end encryption protocol is also used by WhatsApp, so you'll be getting WhatsApp's security without Facebook's involvement. The Signal app regularly conducts security audits on its software and manages to combine that security with a user-friendly interface that even your technophobic uncle could manage. Signal is owned and operated by a non-profit foundation headed by cryptography expert and self-described anarchist Moxie Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, who famously left Facebook in 2017 after a public dispute over the future of WhatsApp. The only downside right now is that Signal has seen such a huge influx of new users that it's been struggling to keep up. So if you have any problems signing up, just remember that it's only temporary and a credit to the app's new-found popularity. Telegram
If you'd rather have something similar to WhatsApp and linked to your phone number, Telegram is one option for you. That said, experts have pointed out that Telegram's services aren't that secure, and its end-to-end encryption is not set up by default. So that's worth bearing in mind. That said, Telegram still offers the option to share files, set messages to self-destruct, and chat in groups of up to 200,000 users. It can also sync messages across all your devices, and costs absolutely nothing to use. Download Telegram: Android, iOS iMessage
If you're an iPhone or Mac user, then the simplest option is sometimes the best, and iMessage is the ideal alternative to WhatsApp. Not only can you send messaging to all phone numbers, whether they use iMessage or not, but Apple has a proven track record of not bending to demands by governments that it add backdoors to its encryption. So your messages stay safe (unless someone can read your iCloud backups). iMessage is just as fully-featured as other popular messaging apps, with support for images, GIFs, video and group calls. In some countries iMessage users can even send each other money using Apple Pay. Video and voice calling is not included in iMessage, and you'll have to do that in the FaceTime app instead -- and FaceTime works only with Apple devices. Why iMessage and FaceTime haven't been blended into one single communications app isn't clear, but that's the way it is. At least it's already installed on all iPhones and most Macs. Google Messages
Google Messages is Google's answer to iMessage, and it's available to all Android users via Google Play and often right out of the box. Designed to replace your existing SMS app and integrated with all Google's services, Google Messages is essentially iMessage, but for Android (and Windows, but not Macs or iOS). End-to-end encryption is automatic when you're messaging anyone else with Google Messages and you can send all your usual images and files as you would with something like WhatsApp. What Messages doesn't have is video and voice calling, since that's all handled by Google Duo. That's right: Just as iMessage and FaceTime are still separate for some reason, so are Messages and Duo, although the latter isn't restricted to Android devices. The good news is that Duo is likely already installed on your Android phone, and if it's not it's free to download from Google Play. iPhone users can get Duo from the Apple App Store. Download Google Messages: Android Download Google Duo: Android, iOS Threema
Threema is an app dedicated to complete privacy, with the option to use the app with total anonymity. You can connect it to your email or phone number, in case you want people to be able to find you, but unlike a lot of apps that's not mandatory. Naturally it also lets you send text, voice, picture, and video messages, which are all encrypted. Likewise you can create group chats, send files, and even set up polls to more easily collect feedback from all your contacts. What's more it has a built-in secure browser, and like WhatsApp everything is stored on your phone rather than some random server anyone can access. Threema itself is based in Switzerland, which is known for its strong privacy laws, but it hasn't really caught on in other countries. The lack of name recognition and the $3 pricetag might make it hard to convince other people to migrate with you. Download Threema: Android, iOS Wire
Another option hailing from Switzerland and it's strong privacy laws, Wire is another encrypted messenger with the usual array of messaging options. It lets you chat via voice, text, and video, while also supporting things like GIFS, file sharing, and all the other stuff you like from WhatsApp. Unlike WhatsApp it's able to sync across devices, and supports multiple accounts for those times you need to keep your communications separate. Wire uses its own open-source encryption protocol called Proteous, but it's based on the Signal protocol used by both Signal and WhatsApp and undergoes regular security audits to keep it secure. Wire is free for mobile and desktop users, though there is a paid tier designed for businesses. Other optionsThose are your simplest options right now, although you can always opt for one of the other best encrypted messaging apps that are currently available, Whether it's Wickr Me, Viber, the $10 a month Silent Phone, or something else entirely, you're sure to find something that works for you — and everyone else you're messaging.  |
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