Hi,

I’m new to Matrix and only a user. I don’t own a homeserver.

My goal was to bring family and friends to Matrix. Therefore I wanted to test a Server with bridges to WhatsApp and Signal so they could use one App to communicate with most of their contacts.

I joined nope.chat and use Element and Fluffy Chat as Clients. I added Bots as Bridges for WhatsApp and Signal.

The bridges work but have some flaws. So I can’t recommend them to my family.

One of the concerns: Is it safe to use bridges at all? Who can read what on the server if I am using a bridge?

Second Concern: I keep getting invitations to a WhatsApp-Community I have never joined. I have declined the invitation but it keeps popping up. If I wanted to ban this chat I would have to ban the whole WhatsApp-Bot.

Any thoughts on that would help.

  • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    One of the concerns: Is it safe to use bridges at all? Who can read what on the server if I am using a bridge?

    Fun thing about Matrix is that all the metadata is stored plainly, so who you’re talking to and when and how often, is known by the server operator, and subject to subpoenas.

    So it depends on what you’re bridging, because you’re making a redundant record of your communications. So you might be bridging Discord but the Discord server is absolutely the low-hanging fruit there. Signal? Well now you’re lowering your privacy and security to the standards of Matrix, which are much lower. Not only that but you’re compromising everyone you communicate with.

    • Hannes Elch@feddit.orgOP
      1·
      2 months ago

      Thanks. Yeah that’s an important point. Didn’t know about that at first. Now I know and won’t use the bridges.