You cannot select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
96 lines
7.5 KiB
HTML
96 lines
7.5 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
|
<html lang="en">
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>(POST) Use Secure Messaging</title>
|
|
<link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="../images/favicon.webp">
|
|
<link rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' href="../style.css">
|
|
<meta charset="utf-8"/>
|
|
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
|
|
</head>
|
|
<body>
|
|
<a style="text-decoration: none;" href="../">
|
|
<pre class="main-header">
|
|
_______ _ _ _______ __ __ _______ _______ __ _
|
|
|______ | | |______ \_/ |_____| |_____| | \ |
|
|
______| |_____| | | | | | | | \_|
|
|
</pre>
|
|
</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr/><p><a href="../">sf.me</a> > <a style="color:#bd93f9" href="../blog/">Blog</a> > <a style="color:#bd93f9" href=".">Use Secure Messaging</a></p>
|
|
<h1>Use Secure Messaging</h1>
|
|
<p style="font-size:110%">Posted on: <strong>23 January 2024</strong></p>
|
|
<p style="font-size:110%">Reading time: <strong><strong>5 min</strong>
|
|
<p style="font-size:110%"></strong>Category: <a style="color:#ff79c6" href="../blog/software/"><strong>Software</strong></a> && <a style="color:#ff79c6" href="../blog/technology/"><strong>Technology</strong></a></p>
|
|
<p>In an era of uncomfortably intrusive tracking, the requirement for secure messaging has become crucial.
|
|
With companies like <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/one-answer-facebook-problem-block-its-tracking-technologies">Meta</a> and <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/03/google-says-it-doesnt-sell-your-data-heres-how-company-shares-monetizes-and">Google</a> intruding our privacy on a daily basis, we must take a stand, especially with the messaging applications, perhaps the most sensitive piece of software that people use.
|
|
In this article, I will explain why it is urgent for you to take the stand by using secure messaging and explain how to get started.</p>
|
|
<h2 id="privacy-an-ignored-factor">Privacy: An Ignored Factor</h2>
|
|
<p>Privacy is incredibly important in this modern day and age.
|
|
This is why I will only speak about messaging software that is <strong>both private and secure.</strong>
|
|
When choosing software, privacy and security should have equal importance.</p>
|
|
<h2 id="why-">Why?</h2>
|
|
<p>Why would one use secure messaging if they have nothing to hide?</p>
|
|
<h3 id="protecting-your-privacy">Protecting Your Privacy</h3>
|
|
<p>Your privacy is incredibly important.
|
|
However, it is ignored by most people, citing that they have nothing to hide.
|
|
Everyone has something to hide, whether that be related to their money, reputation or even personal issues.
|
|
Imagine your reaction if your current messages in their entirety got leaked, allowing anyone to read and go through them.
|
|
You would be uncomfortable and also fear people taking advantage of your private messages.
|
|
It is for this reason that it is important to safeguard your most personal conversations.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="avoiding-cyber-threats">Avoiding Cyber Threats</h3>
|
|
<p>Secure messaging uses end-to-end encryption.
|
|
However, it is not wise to completely trust when companies advertise end-to-end encryption.
|
|
It depends mostly on the algorithm that they use.
|
|
For example, the Signal protocol is open-source and fully available to the public.
|
|
This allows people to view and even contribute to improving its overall effectiveness.
|
|
However, WhatsApp's encryption is proprietary.
|
|
No one knows what encryption algorithm WhatsApp is running on their servers which makes it impossible to determine if it is secure.
|
|
All in all, you should do your own research before proceeding.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="protecting-metadata">Protecting Metadata</h3>
|
|
<p>Your <a href="https://ssd.eff.org/module/why-metadata-matters">metadata is crucial</a> to protecting your conversations.
|
|
It can give context to your messages.
|
|
Protecting your metadata helps mask your messages and protects it from being tampered.</p>
|
|
<h2 id="getting-started">Getting Started</h2>
|
|
<p>I will be showcasing how to download and use secure messaging apps.
|
|
As aforementioned, I will only show apps that are <strong>both secure and private.</strong></p>
|
|
<h3 id="1-choose-a-secure-app">1. Choose a secure app</h3>
|
|
<p>Firstly, download one of the following:</p>
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li><a href="https://www.signal.org/">Signal</a> - It is free, open-source and is a great alternative for WhatsApp</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://getsession.org/">Session</a> - It is incredibly private. You do not get a phone number and have to backup a seed phrase, making it complicated for most users.</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://threema.ch/en">Threema</a> - Threema is a <strong>paid</strong> option but also easy to use.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<p>Next, open your app and set it up.
|
|
Keep only the bare minimum data about you.
|
|
For my name, I keep a dash (-) and no profile picture.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="2-enable-two-factor-authentication">2. Enable two-factor authentication</h3>
|
|
<p>Now, enable <a href="https://sufyaan.me/tfa">two-factor authentication</a> if available.
|
|
This allows you to prevent others from registering using your credentials without your consent.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="3-keep-updating">3. Keep updating</h3>
|
|
<p>Regularly check for updates.
|
|
If an app has an update, update it.
|
|
This prevents security and privacy breaches from occurring.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="4-use-disappearing-messages">4. Use disappearing messages</h3>
|
|
<p>Keep disappearing messages on by default.
|
|
This ensures that sensitive messages are deleted within a period of time.
|
|
For extremely sensitive chats, consider visiting the person you want to talk to physically.
|
|
If that is not an option, turn on disappearing messages and set a time limit for 5 minutes and chat with them, so that the messages disappear after 5 minutes.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="5-educate-your-contacts">5. Educate your contacts</h3>
|
|
<p>If your contacts are still on other messaging apps, convince them to join secure messaging apps as well.
|
|
This allows you to have a secure option even if your main chats are on the other app.</p>
|
|
<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>
|
|
<p>In conclusion, it is important to employ secure messaging.
|
|
Signal, Session and Threema are all viable applications that one can use.
|
|
If only a few of your contacts are on Signal, do not worry.
|
|
Talk to them on Signal and the others on the app you talk with them on.
|
|
Remember, privacy is a journey, not a destination.</p>
|
|
<p><a href="mailto:sf@sufyaan.me?subject=Use%20Secure%20Messaging">>>> Reply To Me</a></p>
|
|
<p><a href="secure.pdf">>>> Download PDF</a></p>
|
|
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="../books/" style="color:#bd93f9"><svg class="footer-posts" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="48" height="48" viewBox="0 0 48 48"><mask id="ipSLeftOne0"><path fill="#fff" stroke="#fff" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="4" d="M30 36L18 24l12-12v24Z"/></mask><path fill="#bd93f9" d="M0 0h48v48H0z" mask="url(#ipSLeftOne0)"/></svg>Previous Post</a> - <a style="color:#bd93f9" href="../terminal/">First Post</a> <svg class="footer-posts" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20"><path fill="#bd93f9" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M2.232 12.207a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06.025l3.958 4.146V6.375a5.375 5.375 0 0 1 10.75 0V9.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.5 0V6.375a3.875 3.875 0 0 0-7.75 0v10.003l3.957-4.146a.75.75 0 0 1 1.085 1.036l-5.25 5.5a.75.75 0 0 1-1.085 0l-5.25-5.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .025-1.06Z" clip-rule="evenodd"/></svg></p>
|
|
<hr/>
|
|
<footer>
|
|
<p class="footer-text"><a style="color:#bd93f9" href="../blog">blog</a> - <a style="color:#ffb86c" href="../about">about</a> - <a style="color:#f1fa8c" href="../portfolio">portfolio</a> - <a style="color:#ff5555" href="../links">links</a></p>
|
|
<p class="footer-text" style="font-size:80%"><a href="../">sufyaan.me</a></p><p class="footer-text" style="font-size:65%"><a style="color:#aaaaaa" href="../sitemap">Site Map</a></p>
|
|
</footer>
|
|
|