Happy #GlobalSwitchDay

[amzd@lemmy.world]

This post did not contain any content.

[vk6flab@lemmy.radio]

I get that WhatsApp is not a platform to use if you care about your privacy, but WTF is "Delta Chat" and why would I switch to it rather than say Signal?

[successful_try543@feddit.org]

As I've understood, Delta chat is based on the IMAP protocol and uses the infrastructure of your email provider. Thus, it uses no own server infrastructure, but has the also the downsides of the protocol and some issues with many email providers.

Wikipedia.de - Delta Chat (no English version available yet)

[perfectly_boiled_pizza@lemmy.world]

I agree that Signal is nice, but I think the point here is that Delta Chat is decentralized

[amzd@lemmy.world]

Because delta chat is using an open protocol (email) and you can run your own servers meaning it is decentralized unlike Signal. Also it is actually anonymous unlike Signal, so you don’t need to give anyone your phone number and people can’t find where you live just by knowing your username.

[sabrew4k3@lazysoci.al]

Because delta chat is using an open protocol (email)

So not an instant messaging protocol but rather a technology that the whole world would do differently if they could go back in time?

[jake_farm@sopuli.xyz]

So like matrix?

[amzd@lemmy.world]

Could you be more concrete? In what relevant way do you think it does not work as an instant messenger? Keep in mind that Delta Chat is not a theoretical thing and it works as well as any other messenger.

[haverholm@kbin.earth]

It's email, adapted to a chat UI.

[zloubida@lemmy.world]

you don’t need to give anyone your phone number

You do not need to give your number anymore to use Signal.

[asudox@lemmy.asudox.dev]

So XMPP?

[sabrew4k3@lazysoci.al]

Regarding SMTP:

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a foundational technology for email, but it has some limitations. Here are some ways it could be improved:

• Security: SMTP was designed in a time of less pervasive security threats. It lacks built-in encryption and authentication mechanisms, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping, spoofing, and spam. While extensions like TLS/SSL and authentication methods exist, they are not universally implemented or enforced.

• Efficiency: SMTP is a "chatty" protocol, meaning it involves multiple back-and-forth exchanges between the client and server. This can lead to latency and increased resource consumption, especially for large emails or bulk sending.
• Deliverability: SMTP doesn't have mechanisms to guarantee email delivery. Emails can get lost, delayed, or filtered as spam. While techniques like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help, they are not foolproof.
• Features: SMTP is primarily designed for sending emails. It lacks features for managing email content, tracking delivery status, or handling complex email workflows.
  Possible Improvements:
• Mandatory Encryption: Enforcing TLS/SSL encryption for all SMTP connections would protect email content from interception.
• Stronger Authentication: Implementing more robust authentication mechanisms would prevent spoofing and ensure that emails originate from legitimate senders.
• Enhanced Deliverability: Developing mechanisms to track email delivery, provide feedback on delivery failures, and reduce spam filtering would improve deliverability.
• More Efficient Communication: Exploring alternative protocols or extensions that reduce the "chattiness" of SMTP could improve efficiency.
• Integration with other technologies: Integrating SMTP with other technologies like REST APIs or message queues could enable more complex email workflows and features.

It's important to note that some of these improvements are already being addressed through extensions and best practices. However, there is still room for improvement in making SMTP a more secure, efficient, and reliable technology.

That said, it looks like Delta Chat doesn't actually use SMTP, having scanned through the website. Though I'm honestly unsure either way as it was only a scan.

[amzd@lemmy.world]

You cannot make a Signal account without phone number so that’s not true.

[zloubida@lemmy.world]

But we are not obliged to share it with our correspondents.

[ohnomorelemmy@lemmy.ml]

Oh that's good.

I've often wondered how could I make my instant messaging less instantaneous, while giving a new app access to my banking emails.

[amzd@lemmy.world]

I asked specifically for relevant issues and you just link general issues with smtp that have no impact on Delta Chat?

SMTP is not secure

Delta Chat sends encrypted messages over it so that’s irrelevant.

SMTP is not efficiency

Your phone can run LLMs, it can send a couple packets. Also this “chattyness” can be seen as an advantage as it is extremely robust and works on any network however inconsistent.

SMTP doesn’t have a way to ensure stuff is delivered

Yeah duh? It’s decentralized. You can’t ensure that the recipient doesn’t take down their server?…

Etc. I feel like I’m wasting my time replying to all these because it seems you didn’t even take the time to read them yourself.

[amzd@lemmy.world]

Yeah I’d rather not share my identity though. Seems like an odd requirement for a “private” messenger

[haverholm@kbin.earth]

Right? I did try Delta many years ago, and I really recommend using a new email account for it.

[sabrew4k3@lazysoci.al]

Should definitely be the go-to

[zloubida@lemmy.world]

Private ≠ anonymous.