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Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

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Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#71
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I really like Telegram. It being a secure messenger would make it perfect". I'm not really snarking at you; a lot of things would be better if they were also secure messengers; Slack is an obvious example.

There’s a pretty clear distinction between slack and telegram - telegram offers a secure messenger channel with private messages. Slack does not do this, and publicly does not plan on doing this. The parent comment is requesting that an existing feature be switched on as default and not introduce a whole change in the communication layer of the app. Unfortunately you then lose syncing across devices, so I understand…

There's another clear distinction: Telegram has proper native clients and an open protocol.

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#72
post #67
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've done my research. Whatsapp has encrypted chats by default, Telegram doesn't. Also Whatsapp UX is much simpler and I value simplicity. Telegram is starting to look like a spaceship with so many features.

> I've done my research. Whatsapp has encrypted chats by default, Telegram doesn't. Telegram has encrypted chats by default, just not E2E-encrypted.

I don't think we should be celebrating that the chats are not sent in plaintext over the net in 2019. That's not the point.

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#73
post #9
post #2

Boggles my mind how WhatsApp is still a more popular messenger than Telegram by a long shot. Talk about network effects and people not doing their research. Or not caring about UX.

If I have to I use WhatsApp (Using Signal's encryption framework) over Telegram as I don't like to use a russian chat app that came up with their own encryption and doesn't even enable encryption by default. It's not just about UX or not doing research.

What's with the massive xenophobia here? It takes one second to find out they are not exactly in bed with the government and you're just left with racist statement.

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#74
post #15

I really like Telegram. Only end-to-end encryption by default and in group chats would make it perfect.

"I really like Telegram. It being a secure messenger would make it perfect". I'm not really snarking at you; a lot of things would be better if they were also secure messengers; Slack is an obvious example.

Slack is an Electron app, taking about 400-500 Mb of memory and it won't be good no matter if it is secure or not. Also, its UI is over-complicated and looks like it was made by a programmer instead of a designer (by the way, Telegram is the opposite: it is written with Qt and has nicer UI).

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#75
post #72
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've done my research. Whatsapp has encrypted chats by default, Telegram doesn't. Telegram has encrypted chats by default, just not E2E-encrypted.

I don't think we should be celebrating that the chats are not sent in plaintext over the net in 2019. That's not the point.

You not only implied that Telwgram chats where unencrypted (AKA plaintext), you outright stated it.

That is wrong.

I guess there are some real issues with Telegram, but lets be honest and not lie and say it isn't encrypted.

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#76
post #33
post #2

Boggles my mind how WhatsApp is still a more popular messenger than Telegram by a long shot. Talk about network effects and people not doing their research. Or not caring about UX.

I've done my research. Whatsapp has encrypted chats by default, Telegram doesn't. Also Whatsapp UX is much simpler and I value simplicity. Telegram is starting to look like a spaceship with so many features.

How do you verify that WhatsApp actually is end to end encrypted?

The founders have lamented that the project is screwed, so you're left with a claim made my Zuckerberg and his buddies?

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#77
post #6
post #2

Boggles my mind how WhatsApp is still a more popular messenger than Telegram by a long shot. Talk about network effects and people not doing their research. Or not caring about UX.

I mean, your choice is between an app owned by Facebook or an app owned by the creators of the largest social network in Russia. I'm surprised more aren't using Signal, open source, and I believe funded by a non-profit organization. With founders that are known to care about organizational transparency and user privacy.

By the way, Signal requires a phone number which is linked to the passport. It means that the government can scan it for all possible phone numbers and get a list of people using it, and maybe even their nicknames and profiles.

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#78
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like the concept of Signal but Telegram has some great features like usernames and public chat groups. In the end, better encryption by itself (Telegram rolled their own) loses out over function. Also, the owners of Telegram are not on good terms with the Russian government (its been banned before).

My routine reminder that Signal doesn't have these features because they genuinely care about privacy and metadata security, and will withhold basic messaging app features until they know how to provide them without (a) creating a database of every pair of communicating users that they retain serverside and (b) leaking information about conversations to traffic analysis. See: user profiles, GIF sharing, both with rea…

If they care about privacy then why do they require a phone number which is linked to identity and location? If they worry about bot registrations, they could require a small fee in Bitcoins to sign up.

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#79
post #60
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I really like Telegram. It being a secure messenger would make it perfect". I'm not really snarking at you; a lot of things would be better if they were also secure messengers; Slack is an obvious example.

Unlike WhatsApp that IIRC you've advertised until earlier this year Telegram doesn't upload unencrypted chat history to Google. Telegram has its issues, yes, but it would be nice if we could agree at some point that it is possible to discuss security outside the context of E2E encryption. > I'm not really snarking at you; Well I'll have to take your word for that but you have a long history of showing up on Telegram…

WhatsApp does not upload unencrypted chat history to Google for me. In fact, I don't even have a Google Account on my LineageOS device, so it can't upload to Google either...

Re: Telegram introduces feature to prevent users from texting too often in a group

#80
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I have to I use WhatsApp (Using Signal's encryption framework) over Telegram as I don't like to use a russian chat app that came up with their own encryption and doesn't even enable encryption by default. It's not just about UX or not doing research.

What's with the massive xenophobia here? It takes one second to find out they are not exactly in bed with the government and you're just left with racist statement.

It has nothing to do with xenophobia or racism.

When the NSA tapped the dark fibers of Google etc they were also not exactly in bed with the government and yet they found out about the fact afterwards and started encrypting everything only then. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-i...)

When you look at the surveillance happening in Russia paired with the unclear status of Telegram's encryption and it being off by default I'd say it's valid to be suspicious.

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