I have nothing against Signal. I just don’t have access to a phone number right now. I fully intend to use the Signal when I get a number. I know there is no silver bullet, no absolutes in the privacy world but I’m looking for any messengers that are generally considered to be private and secure on Android that I can try to convince my friends and family to use. I have a mid - low threat model, it’s just the thought of giving the Zuck anymore of my family’s data makes my skin crawl.
If you have to give up your phone number to register why would you get Signal over Telegram? All the people you aren’t supposed to talk to are on Telegram and not Signal, so if you’re giving up your phone number, why pick Signal? Because it’s FOSS? What’s the difference in outcome? Both end in a phone number request from the government that the service will comply with.
Not the OP, but from a privacy perspective, I would pick Signal over Telegram. They both have some issues, but Telegram is not E2EE by default and is a bit if a pain to use E2EE consistently. And yet, Telegram claims to be super secure, etc. There are a bunch of other issues there as well. I’m not saying Signal is the best privacy tool out there. But, between the two, I trust Telegram a lot less.
Because the threat isn’t getting your number stolen, it’s about the content of your messages. While the goverment cóuld ask your phone number, they likely already have it unless you got a prepaid trow away that you keep replacing regularily. And even then it cóuld be traced when used anywhere. What they can’t get, is your messages. At least not decrypted unless you give it to them yourself. And those are way more interesting. But it’s not even about the goverment per se, it’s for everything from data hungry companies to your old crazy ex.
Telegram sends everything plain text and stores that on their servers. One man-in-the-middle and we got everything you’ve said.
WhatsApp says they have E2EE but is propietary and non-checkable, and from Meta who has a rep for finding ways to secretly and unlawfully grab data. Even if you (foolishly) trust them, they do grab metadata from your messages.
Signal isn’t about it being FOSS, but about privacy. FOSS just means it’s checkable, which is good for security and privacy. They have E2EE not only on message content but also on metdata (unlike most alternatives who only do message contents), do external audits, and are part of a non-profit (which means showing how money is received and spend).
https://signal.org/bigbrother/
I don’t have enough money for a phone number to give to any government agency much less to Signal. My phone ran out of service months ago and no one in my family is even able to re-up theirs much less spot me the scratch to help me with mine. In a perfect world where I could afford a cell phone plan I’d probably go for both honesty. They both have access to perks that I could use. But yeah I’d choose FOSS any and every day.
It was a general question, I was just wondering why you want to go on Signal so much rather than Telegram. I know Telegram requires scanning a captcha to join, is it the same on Signal? If not, then I recommend you try using a free SMS service to register on Signal.
I’ve done this using Google voice. But they’re probably other options out there.