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A comment on WhatsApp will progressively kill features until users accept new privacy policy. Parent comment

Re:WhatsApp will progressively kill features until users acc... by 29083011397778 on Friday May 07, 2021 @09:50PM (#27082882)
While you're still stuck "using" Whatsapp, I've had great success using the Matrix bridge [0] on the homeserver I run [1]. Your contacts still message you, but you don't have to give Whatsapp your contacts list, other apps installed, or location via ip/wifi network.

It won't work for calling (as it's not supported on Whatsapp Web), but images and groups (which I use) both work perfectly.

[0] https://matrix.org/bridges/#whatsapp

[1] https://matrix.org/faq/#self-hosting

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WhatsApp will progressively kill features until users acc... by est31 on Saturday May 08, 2021 @12:49AM (#27083973)
Doesn't that use the whatsapp web api? Which requires you to have Whatsapp installed on your phone as it routes all communication to the phone where it is decrypted?
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Re:WhatsApp will progressively kill features until users acc... by 29083011397778 on Saturday May 08, 2021 @02:29PM (#27089592)
It requires a VM (as noted below) or an old phone you no longer use. I wasn't actively using my Nexus 5 anymore anyways, and this is a better use for it :p

And yeah, it's be forwarded and re-sent through the phone/VM. But this is the best trade-off I've found for dealing with people that refuse to leave WhatsApp. I look accommodating and don't just cut out someone I presumably need to care about, but also limit how much data FB gets.

And while I haven't tested this, I'm now curious how always having WhatsApp Web active affects my "Last Seen" time...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WhatsApp will progressively kill features until users acc... by philtar on Saturday May 08, 2021 @07:29AM (#27086131)
Yes (or an Android VM before anyone tries to get pedantic)
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:WhatsApp will progressively kill features until users acc... by danmur on Friday May 07, 2021 @11:26PM (#27083534)
I use that too, works really well. Bit fiddly to set up but it's surprisingly resilient, and at least the WhatsApp app is stuck in it's own VM with nothing else on it.
[ Parent | on HN ]