this post was submitted on 11 May 2025
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Privacy

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I remember a time when visiting a website that opens a javacript dialog box asking for your name so the message "hi " could be displayed was baulked at.

Why does signal want a phone number to register? Is there a better alternative?

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[–] FreeWilliam@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (26 children)

Jami.net

Ignore the comment saying signal is "end to end encrypted" "private" etc They are simply stuck in a delusional state where they try to convince themselves that signal is the best option so they can continue using it. Nothing is private if it isn't fully libre because you never know what the proprietary code is doing. The signal protocol itself has its source code released, and the encryption and security code is publicly available, but the signal Foundation has stated that it uses both free code and proprietary code. Their reason is UI, but it's hard to make sure whatever proprietary code is being used for because you simply can't see it. As GNU puts it: "You're walking in a pitch black cave". Jami is fully libre and is a GNU project. You don't even need any phone number!

[–] rirus@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Molly.im is a Signal Client fork with Security enhancements and the possibility to install a version with only free software.

[–] FreeWilliam@lemmy.ml 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Great, but it relies on signal's servers, so it's centralised. Also, Moly merely removes proprietary parts from Signal, but that’s a workaround (same thing for linux-libre kernel, it's free software, but just a workaround which is why I'm looking to help with HyprbolaBSD). I'm not coming here to say Molly isn't an improvement, but being centralised and relying on a non-tully-free program's servers is a huge red flag for me :)

[–] coconut@programming.dev 1 points 4 hours ago

It doesn't matter whether a server claims to run free software or not. You can't verify what it's running. That's why E2EE is designed entirely around the client. You can't trust the server no matter what.

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