hotos:  messenger apps - Info            rev 8 jan 2022

↓ general  ↓ some apps

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general info:

  * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_instant_messaging_clients

  * The Wikipedia pages for each are a good way to get 
      clear information and compare.

  * Best WhatsApp alternatives that respect your privacy
      None are perfect, but Signal seems to be the best for privacy.
      From Protonmail - which specialises in privacy.
      https://protonmail.com/blog/whatsapp-alternatives/
      [16 feb 2021; retr 8 jan 2022]


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the main apps - alphabetical order: [below info as of 2019]

* Line
    https://line.me/en/
    https://linecorp.com/en/business/service
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_(software)
    End‑to‑end encryption.
    But is geared towards general public, fun stuff.


* Signal
    https://signal.org/
    https://support.signal.org/
    https://twitter.com/signalapp
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_(software)
    Open Whisper Systems.
    Recommended by Edward Snowden, Laura Poitras, Bruce Schneier.
    End‑to‑end encryption.
    Uses phone number as id (?) - not good.
        But at least you have to register the number with them.
    Open source (on GitHub)
    Your phone knows which of your contacts is a Signal user and 
      notifies you if your contact just started using Signal.
	  This looks like invasion of privacy of the contact. [2021]


* Skype
    https://skype.com
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype
    Owned by Microsoft.
    Geared towards general public.


* WhatsApp
    https://www.whatsapp.com/
    https://faq.whatsapp.com/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp
    Owned by Facebook. Not good.
    End‑to‑end encryption.
    Uses phone number as id - not good.
      especially if you change numbers etc.
      got new number and saw messages from someone else's account
        (reused number apparently):
        https://twitter.com/abbyfuller/status/1083560674884694017
    info: changing phone numbers and/or phones
        https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/s40/28030001/


* Wire
    https://wire.com/en/
    https://twitter.com/wire
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_(software)
    Swiss jurisdiction, servers in Germany and Ireland
    Personal (free) and Pro accounts.
    Personal accounts can connect and communicate with Pro accounts.
    End‑to‑end encryption.
    Protected by European privacy laws.


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