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diff --git a/content/blog/2020-03-25-session-messenger.org b/content/blog/2020-03-25-session-messenger.org index a3d7a76..050c0da 100644 --- a/content/blog/2020-03-25-session-messenger.org +++ b/content/blog/2020-03-25-session-messenger.org @@ -5,46 +5,41 @@ * Privacy Warning -The company behind Session (Loki Foundation) is from Australia. If you -didn't know, Australia has introduced -[[https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bills/r6195_aspassed/toc_pdf/18204b01.pdf][legislation]] -mandating companies comply with government requests to build backdoor -access into applications. For more information, read my article on -[[./2020-01-25-aes-encryption.html][AES Encryption]]. +The company behind Session (Loki Foundation) is from Australia. If you didn't +know, Australia has introduced [[https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bills/r6195_aspassed/toc_pdf/18204b01.pdf][legislation]] mandating companies comply with +government requests to build backdoor access into applications. For more +information, read my article on [[./2020-01-25-aes-encryption.html][AES Encryption]]. * About Session -[[https://getsession.org][Session]] is a private, cross-platform -messaging app from the [[https://loki.foundation][Loki Foundation]]. As -someone who has spent years looking for quality alternatives to major -messaging apps, I was excited when I first heard about Session. Reading -through [[https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.04609.pdf][Session's white paper]], -you can learn the technologies behind the Session app. Part of the -security of Session comes from the Signal protocol, which was forked as -the origin of Session. +[[https://getsession.org][Session]] is a private, cross-platform messaging app from the [[https://loki.foundation][Loki Foundation]]. As +someone who has spent years looking for quality alternatives to major messaging +apps, I was excited when I first heard about Session. Reading through [[https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.04609.pdf][Session's +white paper]], you can learn the technologies behind the Session app. Part of the +security of Session comes from the Signal protocol, which was forked as the +origin of Session. #+begin_quote -Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that removes sensitive -metadata collection, and is designed for people who want privacy and -freedom from any forms of surveillance. +Session is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that removes sensitive metadata +collection, and is designed for people who want privacy and freedom from any +forms of surveillance. #+end_quote In general, this app promises security through end-to-end encryption, -decentralized onion routing, and private identities. The biggest change -that the Loki Foundation has made to the Signal protocol is removing the -need for a phone number. Instead, a random identification string is -generated for any session you create. This means you can create a new -session for each device if you want to, or link new devices with your -ID. +decentralized onion routing, and private identities. The biggest change that the +Loki Foundation has made to the Signal protocol is removing the need for a phone +number. Instead, a random identification string is generated for any session you +create. This means you can create a new session for each device if you want to, +or link new devices with your ID. -Since Session's website and white paper describe the details of -Session's security, I'm going to focus on using the app in this post. +Since Session's website and white paper describe the details of Session's +security, I'm going to focus on using the app in this post. * Features -Since most people are looking for an alternative to a popular chat app, -I am going to list out the features that Session has so that you are -able to determine if the app would suit your needs: +Since most people are looking for an alternative to a popular chat app, I am +going to list out the features that Session has so that you are able to +determine if the app would suit your needs: - Multiple device linking (via QR code or ID) - App locking via device screen lock, password, or fingerprint @@ -59,15 +54,15 @@ able to determine if the app would suit your needs: * Downloads -I have tested this app on Ubuntu 19.10, Android 10, macOS Monterey, and -iOS 15. All apps have worked well without many issues. +I have tested this app on Ubuntu 19.10, Android 10, macOS Monterey, and iOS 15. +All apps have worked well without many issues. -Below is a brief overview of the Session app on Linux. To get this app, -you'll need to go to the [[https://getsession.org/download/][Downloads]] -page and click to link to the operating system you're using. +Below is a brief overview of the Session app on Linux. To get this app, you'll +need to go to the [[https://getsession.org/download/][Downloads]] page and click to link to the operating system +you're using. -For Linux, it will download an AppImage that you'll need to enable with -the following command: +For Linux, it will download an AppImage that you'll need to enable with the +following command: #+begin_src sh sudo chmod u+x session-messenger-desktop-linux-x86_64-1.0.5.AppImage @@ -75,42 +70,39 @@ sudo chmod u+x session-messenger-desktop-linux-x86_64-1.0.5.AppImage * Creating an Account -Once you've installed the app, simply run the app and create your unique -Session ID. It will look something like this: +Once you've installed the app, simply run the app and create your unique Session +ID. It will look something like this: =05af1835afdd63c947b47705867501d6373f486aa1ae05b1f2f3fcd24570eba608=. -You'll need to set a display name and, optionally, a password. If you -set a password, you will need to enter it every time you open the app. +You'll need to set a display name and, optionally, a password. If you set a +password, you will need to enter it every time you open the app. * Start Messaging -Once you've created your account and set up your profile details, the -next step is to start messaging other people. To do so, you'll need to -share your Session ID with other people. From this point, it's fairly -straightforward and acts like any other messaging app, so I won't dive -into much detail here. +Once you've created your account and set up your profile details, the next step +is to start messaging other people. To do so, you'll need to share your Session +ID with other people. From this point, it's fairly straightforward and acts like +any other messaging app, so I won't dive into much detail here. ** macOS -One key feature to note is that the desktop application now provides a -helpful pop-up box explaining the process that Session uses to hide your -IP address: +One key feature to note is that the desktop application now provides a helpful +pop-up box explaining the process that Session uses to hide your IP address: ** iOS -The mobile app is quite simple and effective, giving you all the -standard mobile messaging options you'd expect. +The mobile app is quite simple and effective, giving you all the standard mobile +messaging options you'd expect. * Potential Issues -I've discovered one annoying issue that would prevent from using this -app regularly. On a mobile device, there have been issues with receiving -messages on time. Even with battery optimization disabled and no network -restrictions, Session notifications sometimes do not display until I -open the app or the conversation itself and wait a few moments. This is -actually one of the reasons I stopped using Signal (this seems fixed as -of my updates in 2021/2022, so I wouldn't worry about this issue -anymore). - -Looking for another messenger instead of Session? I recommend Signal, -Matrix, and IRC. +I've discovered one annoying issue that would prevent from using this app +regularly. On a mobile device, there have been issues with receiving messages on +time. Even with battery optimization disabled and no network restrictions, +Session notifications sometimes do not display until I open the app or the +conversation itself and wait a few moments. This is actually one of the reasons +I stopped using Signal (this seems fixed as of my updates in 2021/2022, so I +wouldn't worry about this issue anymore). + +Looking for another messenger instead of Session? I recommend Signal, Matrix, +and IRC. |