this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2025
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Is it possible to set up a signal server, or is it not completely FOSS?
@Valmond @SrMono
If you want to selfhost your own messenger, you can with Matrix or XMPP. XMPP, for ex, is the protocol used by WhatsApp.
Edited: removed Signal. Actually it seems it's the encryption tool (OMEMO) for XMPP that is based on Signal protocol.
Would my friends on signal be able to connect to that?
@Valmond @jerkface
Maybe we're wrong but for the moment they're not interoperable.
But the new European DMA regulation requires platforms to be interoperable. Meta and Apple are obliged now to open up their apps to communicate with smaller rival apps such as Signal. Apps using XMPP may be allowed to communicate with other apps in the future, although this seems to pose some security risks.
Some information about the requirement for interoperability between messengers:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/04/eu-digital-markets-acts-interoperability-rule-addresses-important-need-raises
@ueeu @Valmond @jerkface And I'm definitely not in favour of interoperability for a lot of things.
If I don't want to be on WhatsApp, Messenger, Threads, or whatever, why would I want my Signal messages to end up there?
Whaaaa, really??
It isn't at all. It is closed source powered by an American non-profit organization. You can consider this organization as
friendly.They recurrently said, they would shut the gates if U.S. government/law wants them to store more than metdata (phone number+last activity date) they are storing.
So noodlejetskis comment below is wrong?
Thanks for the info BTW, I'm an avid user and proponent of Signal (best out there today eh.)
@Valmond @SrMono Most popular out there and one of the easiest to set up / easiest to convince non-tech users to switch over to. Not the best... For me, that award would go to Matrix / Element.
Threema would be second (and should be first), but many will balk at the shocking fact that they dare to ask money to contribute to their development and operation costs...
What about SimpleX Chat? Comes without identifiers, is open source and not located in the US. Relay Servers are located in Germany, UK and Sweden and it's possible to host your own. Last audit was in 2024. No metadata is stored. Fundings are handled very transparently and presentated on the Website.
Not meaning to advertise it, just genuine interested in other peoples opinion.
In terms of security I would go Matrix, Threema, Signal.. in terms of usability I would say Signal, Threema, Matrix.
Threema also has a Business line which helps to cover the cost, but yea.. the price went up from 1€ to 5€. Back in the days I sponsored some licenses and spilled a bunch 1€ in the club like a rich man.
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@[email protected]
Very good question and one of the big critic points about signal.
It is theoretically foss, but so complicated apparently, (or parts missing?) that it seems nobody ever menaged to set it up.
So in effect it it proprietary.
And since I is lock-in there is also no incentive to start another server. That's one reason to use federated protocols.
:xmpp:
you can set up your own server for your own needs as far as I know, but you'll probably have to build your own version of the client to connect to it. there's no decentralisation.