Text Messaging App

[phenomlab]

@JAC I use WhatsApp because literally everyone I know uses it, and they won’t be moving over anytime soon. They don’t really care it’s a Meta product - just that it works and is very convenient. To be fair, during the pandemic, these apps came into their own and were considered critical when people couldn’t physically meet but still wanted to keep in contact with loved ones.

The plus side of WhatsApp is the native end-to-end encryption, as with Telegram. I just don’t like the idea of transmitting sensitive information over something “Meta owned” - the same applies to @Madchatthew whom I know has privacy issues with anything Google related (and I don’t blame him either).

[Madchatthew]

@JAC said in Text Messaging App:

I do have WhatsApp installed but I cringe whenever I use it .

Yeah, it’s that Meta part that gets me every time. I think I might start using Signal and just start inviting people to it and see what happens. If I absolutely have to, I guess I could switch to whatsapp, but I won’t go down without a fight LOLOL

@phenomlab said in Text Messaging App:

The plus side of WhatsApp is the native end-to-end encryption, as with Telegram. I just don’t like the idea of transmitting sensitive information over something “Meta owned”

You know this is so important, especially now days when it seems like information is so easily hacked by nefarious people. Then you have these big companies that are focused on selling your information to others to stuff more money in their pockets.

[phenomlab]

@Madchatthew said in Text Messaging App:

Then you have these big companies that are focused on selling your information to others to stuff more money in their pockets.

And that’s the key point right there. Meta don’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to privacy.

[Madchatthew]

@phenomlab and then you take into account how these big tech companies admitted into withholding news and events that could have swayed people to vote a different way and messing with election information. It is to the point where you can’t even trust these big tech companies. Anytime these companies get any kind of funding or favors from the government, you know that the government is gonna come knocking at their door asking for favors at some point.

[phenomlab]

@Madchatthew Yes, exactly. A bit like encryption with “backdoors” if you like.

[Madchatthew]

@phenomlab Yeah you go that right and one they can kick open anytime they see it would benefit them. Although at that point is is probably just left open all the time with a huge door stopper in it to keep it from closing haha

[JAC]

@phenomlab Agree with all points here. Anything related to Facebook I hate with a passion unfortunately.

I have it installed on my phone but I rarely read the messages, now you may say that’s over the top but there’s even people I haven’t spoken to in years trying to get back in touch with me and I just can’t bring myself to reply .

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Text Messaging App:

And that’s the key point right there. Meta don’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to privacy.

This is it, their record is awful and I for one don’t trust them. I don’t particularly trust Google either but my life is essentially stored on a Google (android) product and there is no real way to get away from that.

I guess all you can try and do is use the best practices yourself and then in your mind you may be satisfied .

[phenomlab]

@JAC said in Text Messaging App:

there is no real way to get away from that.

Not entirely true. Search “degoogle your life”.

[JAC]

@phenomlab

https://proton.me/degoogle

I try not to use Google as much as I can. I use Duckduckgo as my search engine, although generally I use an android handset on a daily basis 🤪.

[Madchatthew]

I wonder if a linux phone OS can be installed on those nothing phones? I would be interested in that and then you would be able to 100% get away from google. You would just have to make sure and not go to their site.

[phenomlab]

@Madchatthew According to the below, there is Paranoid and Lineage

https://nothing.community/d/2993-your-experience-running-ubuntu-touch-on-nothing-phone

Rob Braxman also has some pretty decent videos on de-googling your phone

https://www.youtube.com/@robbraxmantech

For info, LineageOS is de-googled

[phenomlab]

@JAC the problem with Proton is that their “solution” to de-google your life only extends to email sadly.

[JAC]

@phenomlab Lineage is good. No Google play or anything like that. My brother tried it a few months back on a Samsung model and now his phone cuts out mid-call. I’m sure there’s a way around it. I also have it installed on an old Samsung tablet which uses F-Droid as the app store alternative.

[phenomlab]

@JAC said in Text Messaging App:

now his phone cuts out mid-call

That’s not a good sign at all. Doesn’t exactly instil confidence.

[JAC]

@phenomlab they do now have Drive, Calender, Docs and are looking to create an alternative to Google wallet.

Whilst it’s not perfect, it’s a good start but truth be told I don’t think you can ever truly De-Google.

[phenomlab]

@JAC Yes, I’ve seen their product offerings. They aren’t great to be fair.

[JAC]

@phenomlab For me so far they do the job. I pay for the whole package and am on the family plan. No complaints from me as of yet other than lack of Kill switch on TV apps.

[phenomlab]

@JAC I find their product ranges to be very expensive if I’m honest.

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Text Messaging App:

@JAC I find their product ranges to be very expensive if I’m honest.

It is yes, I pay around £25 a month for their full suite but that’s across 6 users as it’s a family plan. When you put it like that it’s not too bad.