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When will HN learn that convenience beats security every single time? All posts that mention Telegram get the same tiring comments about security and they're al

When will HN learn that convenience beats security every single time? All posts that mention Telegram get the same tiring comments about security and they're all utterly pointless and preaching to the choir. Yes, we know there are more secure messenger apps out there, thanks. But unless they offer at least the same convenience as Telegram does, no one will use them except you and some of your tech friends. If you want security and privacy to become mainstream, simply make it a boring, invisible implementation detail of your messenging platform which is superior in convenience.

botto 8y ago
Keybase is very convenient, same features and is based on known standards and has arguably as good a UX as telegram. Why isn't that used more?
- HHalvi 8y ago
  I hate the hassle of setting up Keybase on Mobile andDesktop so i have never bothered about it till now.
  - vonseel 8y ago
    Hassle? It’s incredibly straightforward. Maybe 2 steps to login to an account on iOS that already exists on desktop (preferences add devise, scan QR code).
- pnutjam 8y ago
  I use keybase too, but I don't know anyone else; even though I've invited them...
ta2223332221 8y ago
If you want security and privacy to become mainstream, simply make it a boring, invisible implementation detail of your messenging platform which is superior in convenience I believe that is precisely Signal's philosophy. Which is why for example it uses/requires a phone number instead of a username - which then people also complain about on HN and elsewhere. That it's less convenient than other messengers (which I don't dispute) is not for the lack of trying. So I suspect the answer is the loudest users/commenters will "never" learn this.
Krasnol 8y ago
> no one will use them except you and some of your tech friends. This goes the other way around just as well. No one will use them except you and some of your edgy young friends. I mean...seriously...I don't see my mother using "custom made stickers" nor my wife or my co-workers who are not "tech". They are just older and need to send text and a picture from time to time.

botto 8y ago

Keybase is very convenient, same features and is based on known standards and has arguably as good a UX as telegram. Why isn't that used more?

HHalvi 8y ago
I hate the hassle of setting up Keybase on Mobile andDesktop so i have never bothered about it till now.
- vonseel 8y ago
  Hassle? It’s incredibly straightforward. Maybe 2 steps to login to an account on iOS that already exists on desktop (preferences add devise, scan QR code).
pnutjam 8y ago
I use keybase too, but I don't know anyone else; even though I've invited them...

ta2223332221 8y ago

If you want security and privacy to become mainstream, simply make it a boring, invisible implementation detail of your messenging platform which is superior in convenience I believe that is precisely Signal's philosophy. Which is why for example it uses/requires a phone number instead of a username - which then people also complain about on HN and elsewhere. That it's less convenient than other messengers (which I don't dispute) is not for the lack of trying. So I suspect the answer is the loudest users/commenters will "never" learn this.

Krasnol 8y ago

> no one will use them except you and some of your tech friends. This goes the other way around just as well. No one will use them except you and some of your edgy young friends. I mean...seriously...I don't see my mother using "custom made stickers" nor my wife or my co-workers who are not "tech". They are just older and need to send text and a picture from time to time.