Any WhatsApp alternative?

Guitaret

As most of you know, Facebook purchased WhatsApp and for me I tried to run away from the world most notorious data collector/spy machine by not opening a Facebook account and now this...

Any suggestion of a good popular (or to be) IM mobile app for Android (alternative for WhatsApp besides Viber & Skype) or should I remove this app completely and stick to SMS?

Joe

There are several alternatives. I use Jabber/XMPP and IRC to connect with my friends, you'll easily find clients (apps) for them on Android. It gives you great control as you can host your own server if needed. And if you can't or don't know how to, there's a myriad of trustworthy servers out there you can use.

The problem lies elsewhere. You need to get your contacts to start using it as well. Depending on which circles you hang in, it might be difficult. People are notoriously reluctant to change...

LifeEngineer

Perhaps Viber, Skype, Hangouts, Line, BBM, WEchat, kik etc...

I personally will continue using whatsapp as usual, because I don't find any reason why shouldn't I!

Privacy is nonexistent nowadays in my opinion!

Add: tango, Chaton

Draguen

as rahmu said, it's not finding the app that is difficult, but convincing people to try it.

But if you still want something kinda secure: Threema

mohammadk97

The best "Whatsapp alternative" I found is telegram. It's faster and more secure than whatsapp, and it's becoming more popular.

AvoK95

Yeah, try Telegram.

samer

Check out TextSecure and RedPhone by WhisperSystems. The projects were initiated by Moxie Marlinspike (the person behind SSL Strip).

m0ei

https://heml.is/ by the piratebay guys.

Badieh

Really? If you want something private, don't even bother using SMS. Keep it to yourself, cause that's the only way it would stay private.

No matter what you use, the moment you place it on the internet, your privacy is jeopardized.

Gamer

Snail Mail: Liban Post

Guitaret

Badieh wroteReally? If you want something private, don't even bother using SMS. Keep it to yourself, cause that's the only way it would stay private.

No matter what you use, the moment you place it on the internet, your privacy is jeopardized.

Privacy is a perceptive term; therefore I am not highly concerned with data security in the manner. Crucial information or whatever data that will impact your life when publicly/privately released shall be carefully transmitted, not just now but in the pre-Internet era, ever since humans found a way to write down letters and maybe before that...

What I mean is the sentiment of having a lousy freaky nosy neighbors that will keep you under the spotlight, monitor and log every single instance of a move you make, with a craving anticipation for the first chance to use this "log file" against you.

Anyway, I appreciate your tips guys and I will definitely try some of the apps you mentioned, and maybe convince some people to use them.

bermudapineapple

Badieh wroteReally? If you want something private, don't even bother using SMS. Keep it to yourself, cause that's the only way it would stay private.

No matter what you use, the moment you place it on the internet, your privacy is jeopardized.

But don't you think there's a difference between Facebook and LebGeeks? I think one site definitely compromises your privacy much more than the other. In that way, choosing an alternative to WhatsApp does make some sense.

ironman

m0ei wrotehttps://heml.is/ by the piratebay guys.

Seems nice :) followed them on twitter, hope the release will be soon

Obviously

tt400 wrote
Badieh wroteReally? If you want something private, don't even bother using SMS. Keep it to yourself, cause that's the only way it would stay private.

No matter what you use, the moment you place it on the internet, your privacy is jeopardized.

But don't you think there's a difference between Facebook and LebGeeks? I think one site definitely compromises your privacy much more than the other. In that way, choosing an alternative to WhatsApp does make some sense.

Doesn't matter. Both are equally not secure. Just one is more loud about its nosiness. Frankly what worries me more about FB purchasing Whatsapp is the possibility of them adding ads.

Anyway, what are you hiding? The fact that you just spotted a hot potential gf/bf? The fact that you just farted the worst smelling fart ever? The fact that you just got a job, got engaged, are planning a surprise bday party, etc. There's nothing really to hide, unless you were planning something you're going to get arrested for. If that's the case, then it's really not secure to share anywhere online, unless you completely trust the security of whatever you are using.

https://crypto.cat/ is made by a friend of mine living abroad and they should be releasing a mobile app soon. That's one way to have a secure chat, but never secure enough, of course.

samer

Anyway, what are you hiding? The fact that you just spotted a hot potential gf/bf? The fact that you just farted the worst smelling fart ever? The fact that you just got a job, got engaged, are planning a surprise bday party, etc. There's nothing really to hide, unless you were planning something you're going to get arrested for. If that's the case, then it's really not secure to share anywhere online, unless you completely trust the security of whatever you are using.

You are missing the point. It's not about having "nothing to hide", he should have the liberty to not disclose these things. If you close the bathroom door, does it mean that you are up to no good?
Here's a good piece debunking the argument: Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have 'Nothing to Hide'. Solove also wrote an academic paper on the subject.

bermudapineapple

samer wrote
Anyway, what are you hiding? The fact that you just spotted a hot potential gf/bf? The fact that you just farted the worst smelling fart ever? The fact that you just got a job, got engaged, are planning a surprise bday party, etc. There's nothing really to hide, unless you were planning something you're going to get arrested for. If that's the case, then it's really not secure to share anywhere online, unless you completely trust the security of whatever you are using.
You are missing the point. It's not about having "nothing to hide", he should have the liberty to not disclose these things. If you close the bathroom door, does it mean that you are up to no good?
Here's a good piece debunking the argument: Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have 'Nothing to Hide'. Solove also wrote an academic paper on the subject.

Thank you. I cannot understand for the life of me how people think that if a person isn't hiding anything that they shouldn't be worried about having their privacy compromised.

rolf

As someone already mentioned: Telegram. It is very much like WhatsApp, but it seems to be better.
Whatsapp was down yesterday for a couple of hours or so, and it made people look for alternatives, and Telegram, which apparently was an app nobody heard of before is gaining a lot of exposure from that.

Badieh

samer wrote
Anyway, what are you hiding? The fact that you just spotted a hot potential gf/bf? The fact that you just farted the worst smelling fart ever? The fact that you just got a job, got engaged, are planning a surprise bday party, etc. There's nothing really to hide, unless you were planning something you're going to get arrested for. If that's the case, then it's really not secure to share anywhere online, unless you completely trust the security of whatever you are using.
You are missing the point. It's not about having "nothing to hide", he should have the liberty to not disclose these things. If you close the bathroom door, does it mean that you are up to no good?
Here's a good piece debunking the argument: Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have 'Nothing to Hide'. Solove also wrote an academic paper on the subject.

Sorry to say this, but the comparison is a little off. Why not think of it this way, would you disclose your credit card information over this new "trusted" application that you are going to install? I highly doubt so. The day when the government would install cameras inside your house, that's when you would go crazy. But why would you care if they installed cameras around the city? You shouldn't think of the internet as a private entity. It is public, no matter how secure it is. This is why you can't compare a bathroom to it, however, you can compare it to going out on the streets.

That's my point of view, and personal opinion on the matter. Cheers!

ironman

Obviously wrote
tt400 wrote
Badieh wroteReally? If you want something private, don't even bother using SMS. Keep it to yourself, cause that's the only way it would stay private.

No matter what you use, the moment you place it on the internet, your privacy is jeopardized.

But don't you think there's a difference between Facebook and LebGeeks? I think one site definitely compromises your privacy much more than the other. In that way, choosing an alternative to WhatsApp does make some sense.
Doesn't matter. Both are equally not secure. Just one is more loud about its nosiness. Frankly what worries me more about FB purchasing Whatsapp is the possibility of them adding ads.

Anyway, what are you hiding? The fact that you just spotted a hot potential gf/bf? The fact that you just farted the worst smelling fart ever? The fact that you just got a job, got engaged, are planning a surprise bday party, etc. There's nothing really to hide, unless you were planning something you're going to get arrested for. If that's the case, then it's really not secure to share anywhere online, unless you completely trust the security of whatever you are using.

https://crypto.cat/ is made by a friend of mine living abroad and they should be releasing a mobile app soon. That's one way to have a secure chat, but never secure enough, of course.

Crypto.cat has been refused by apple (AppStore few months ago)
I am running it on my Macbook.

Obviously

samer wrote
Anyway, what are you hiding? The fact that you just spotted a hot potential gf/bf? The fact that you just farted the worst smelling fart ever? The fact that you just got a job, got engaged, are planning a surprise bday party, etc. There's nothing really to hide, unless you were planning something you're going to get arrested for. If that's the case, then it's really not secure to share anywhere online, unless you completely trust the security of whatever you are using.
You are missing the point. It's not about having "nothing to hide", he should have the liberty to not disclose these things. If you close the bathroom door, does it mean that you are up to no good?
Here's a good piece debunking the argument: Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have 'Nothing to Hide'. Solove also wrote an academic paper on the subject.

No one said he is up to no good, but whether he was using Telegram, or Whatsapp, or any other chat app. Once whatever you say is said on the Internet, it means it's out. Using "Secure" apps is an illusion. It's a marketing scheme.

I've never written my credit card info online, never disclosed deep secrets online (only when I was younger and clueless about how the Internet works), and sometimes I do share secrets, but I know that I don't mind if some stranger read them.