Nostr Web Client

I have been able to convince exactly 0 people to use #Signal after they dropped SMS support.

Most of the people I convinced to use it only used it mostly with me. BUT, the selling point was that they could just set it as the default (better) SMS app and not just have another fucking messaging app just for me.

About 90% of MY communication used to be encrypted on Signal, even if theirs wasn't (it didn't matter to them).

Now? All of them are back to sending me SMS. This erased about two years of work I put into converting people.

So great, Signal is now more secure. Except no one in my life uses it with me anymore. Where exactly is the benefit we were supposed to see?

This is an old topic at this point, but just wanted to call out the fact that what many of us predicted is now a reality.

The interesting thing is that overlapping people in my network (friends, family, etc) were starting to use encryption incidentally without even knowing it.

A network effect that took a lot of work was completely destroyed by one decision.

Signal is dead in my life now and it's truly sad. I'm putting an end to my fruitless attempts to convert people. Sad.

#Security #Cybersecurity

Daniele 1y ago

Classic social issue 😕

I am going so far to basically ignore people who write me to whatsapp, and answer promptly just on telegram or signal or anything else.

But this kind of "wars" are not going anywhere and are kind of pointless in the end.

The only way probably is a standard like email and then everyone keep using the app they prefer, provided the ability to filter out whoever do not use e2e encryption or whatever feature you want to enforce on your peers.

Maybe nostr is that thing.

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Discussion

Matt 1y ago

I won't even install things like WhatsApp, so there's nothing for me to ignore unless I just delete my SMS app. That's how people reach me since I don't even have accounts for the apps they use (mostly SnapChat, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger in my age group.)

fiatjaf 1y ago

SMS is actually good.

Matt 1y ago

That's a broad statement. It's not good if you don't want the phone company (and anyone else who can have access as a result) having a complete record of every conversation you have through messaging.

It's not good if you want some features offered by modern messaging clients.

It is good that it has been adopted as a standard.

If you just want to tell someone hey in a standard way and don't give a damn who sees it then sure, it's good.

fiatjaf 1y ago

Ok, you are right. They are awful.

Matt 1y ago

Are you being sarcastic or is there something I don't understand about SMS?

fiatjaf 1y ago

No, I really think they are bad. I was just highlighting the fact that they are good in at least one aspect, but you gave me a serious answer and I can't but agree with you. It was all a misunderstanding.