Skype alternatives - privacy issues

[Myriad]

Questions over privacy and Skype ( eg. logging , snooping etc ) have been around as long
as Skype has been going .
Now that it is owned by Microsoft things can only get worse .

I have been trying some other Voip and messaging options and anything that is Open Source
is always going to get my attention .

There is good 2014 article here , from " Wired " , which gives a general overview.
" Hackers Build a Skype That’s Not Controlled by Microsoft "

So far I have had a go with both Tox and Jitsi and I'm keen to hear from any members who
have also tried these services .

Jitsi is more polished than Tox but there is an ongoing issue with logging , and the fact that
it doesn't seem possible to delete chat history ??

All thoughts and opinions are welcome

 

[hjlbx]

The problem with Skype and alternative is not limited to just privacy; the real risk to these type programs is that they can be exploited, hacked and all activity logged.

Anyone remember FinSpy... ?

 

[kev216]

I have not heared of the ones you mentioned so I can not say they are good, but another very popular and widely used Skype alternative is Viber.

 

[Myriad]

.....
Anyone remember FinSpy... ?

Yes indeedy !!

It's hard to decide which is the bigger nuisance .... M$ or the TLAs

Either way , it encourages me in my efforts !

 

[jamescv7]

Well you cannot really escape privacy issues, since some of the condition goes on improving and maintaining the program.

So it is a decision if convenience or complications.

 

[Ink]

If you have an iPhone, iPad or Mac, you can use FaceTime (Apple only).

Many other apps for Android and iOS provide messaging and video-calling, are you looking for PC (Windows) desktop client apps only?

 

[vrb93]

I used TeamViewer's meeting feature as a Skype alternative when it gave me connectivity problems due to poor quality connection.
You can try TW without even registering, just run it, share the meeting-ID with your partner, set up the video-sharing and you're done

 

[NikolayfromRussia]

About 2 years ago I found a web resource where you can determine the Ip of skype user. You just need to put his skype nick and it will show the detailed information about the skype user like Ip adress, country, city. Really funny things that uncover your privacy

 

[simbelmayne]

There are lots of good alternatives, but skype is the most widespread one. if you wanna talk with someone, you ask "Hey, do you have Skype?", and one says "yes".

 

[ttto]

Curse is very good https://www.curse.com/

 

[Janl1992l]

Curse is very good https://www.curse.com/

Just looked at it. it looks realy nice Thanks for the link. i never tought something like this exist. if now i can only say to my friend they should use this instead of Ts³for gaming would make my happy.

 

[SpartacusSystem]

Viber is pretty good. End to end encryption.

 

[ttto]

Just looked at it. it looks realy nice Thanks for the link. i never tought something like this exist. if now i can only say to my friend they should use this instead of Ts³for gaming would make my happy.

Yea! and also has very good security features!

 

[adyblueboy]

Try Wire http://www.downloadmessenger.org/download-wire

 

[Deleted member 178]

Line seems good. then after you have dedicated security-oriented apps but almost nobody use them lol

 

[CMLew]

Line seems good. then after you have dedicated security-oriented apps but almost nobody use them lol

LINE frequently drops off the connectivity for me. Skype would do a better job at that, even though it could be potentially exploited.

Well, I can't ignore the mass society's preference over individual concern.

 

[tonibalas]

I prefer Viber for calls inside my country and Line when calling abroad.
Both of them work really well.

 

[Ink]

WhatsApp - Desktop, Web and Mobile
Google Allo & Duo - Android and iOS
Viber - Desktop and Mobile
WeChat - Desktop, Web and Mobile
Discord - Desktop, Web and Mobile
Razer Comms - Desktop and Mobile

 

[CMLew]

And when all else fail:



.

 

[Myriad]

When I first posted I was only thinking of Skype alternatives for laptop/PC and I didn't know that there were so many
voip-ish apps for mobiles .

I see people I know use those mobile apps all the time , but I am a total Luddite when it comes to smart-phones ,
so I can't check them out for myself .
My phone is about as dumb they come ( and some cheapo networks that I could have used no longer even support 2G )

Maybe I should make a new "mobile security config " ...