4 ms·

Many of us use Telegram. Others use Signal. Signal advantages: tptacek thinks the crypto is good. Signal disadvantage: It wont work with limited permissions

Many of us use Telegram. Others use Signal. Signal advantages: tptacek thinks the crypto is good. Signal disadvantage: It wont work with limited permissions on your phone according to some people on HN. Telegram advantage: somewhat more userfriendly. Larger userbase. Works even if you limit its permissions. Telegram disadvantage: every cryptographer seems to think their crypto is bad. Uncertainty wrt their relations with Russian government. (I think they are enemies but some think they are very good friends or blackmailed into cooperation.)

chappi42 9y ago
> Many of us use Telegram. And some friends and me use Threema. Very old fashioned: you pay some money and get a product. But I wouldn't want to switch.
- reitanqild 9y ago
  Sounds like a product I'd like. I used to like WhatsApp, another app with an old-fashioned business model ...
- theyinwhy 9y ago
  Imho threema is the best client overall. Very fast, very reliable, great UI, good crypto. Designed for company usage. Security whise however I guess Signal has the upper hand. They both audit their crypto: Threema audit: https://threema.ch/es/faq/code_audit https://threema.ch/es/faq/code_audit Signal audit: https://eprint.iacr.org/2016/1013.pdf https://eprint.iacr.org/2016/1013.pdf
sah2ed 9y ago
> Signal disadvantage: It wont work with limited permissions on your phone according to some people on HN. I'm curious as to what those limited permissions are? I assume this refers to iOS, because in my experience, Android is not as restrictive of apps.
- theyinwhy 9y ago
  Not anymore, fixed approx. 2 months ago, see changelog: > This holiday season, don't ask for everything all at once (especially during installation). Signal now supports dynamic permissions.
8bitsrule 9y ago
Disadvantages of Telegram, Signal: Add: don't work on desktops.
- reitanqild 9y ago
  Telegram works well on desktops. For me that is part of being userfriendly.
- bwbw223 9y ago
  The signal app works fine for me (on Mac)...

chappi42 9y ago

> Many of us use Telegram. And some friends and me use Threema. Very old fashioned: you pay some money and get a product. But I wouldn't want to switch.

reitanqild 9y ago
Sounds like a product I'd like. I used to like WhatsApp, another app with an old-fashioned business model ...
theyinwhy 9y ago
Imho threema is the best client overall. Very fast, very reliable, great UI, good crypto. Designed for company usage. Security whise however I guess Signal has the upper hand. They both audit their crypto: Threema audit: https://threema.ch/es/faq/code_audit https://threema.ch/es/faq/code_audit Signal audit: https://eprint.iacr.org/2016/1013.pdf https://eprint.iacr.org/2016/1013.pdf

sah2ed 9y ago

> Signal disadvantage: It wont work with limited permissions on your phone according to some people on HN. I'm curious as to what those limited permissions are? I assume this refers to iOS, because in my experience, Android is not as restrictive of apps.

theyinwhy 9y ago
Not anymore, fixed approx. 2 months ago, see changelog: > This holiday season, don't ask for everything all at once (especially during installation). Signal now supports dynamic permissions.

8bitsrule 9y ago

Disadvantages of Telegram, Signal: Add: don't work on desktops.

reitanqild 9y ago
Telegram works well on desktops. For me that is part of being userfriendly.
bwbw223 9y ago
The signal app works fine for me (on Mac)...