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Since the family didn’t want to turn off RCS, I completely changed the app instead😂😂😂
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this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2026
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Android
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https://www.klaviyo.com/blog/difference-between-rcs-vs-sms-vs-mms
For anyone who is completely using degoogled android; unless your using microG, stock android messaging apps don’t support RCS. That is Apple (joined the bandwagon with IOS 18) and Googles controlled space. Everyone knows that google is anti privacy, hence, not using messages with RCS, unless google unleashes the reign of RCS, but unfortunately I don’t know if that is ever going to happen.
You’re not really missing much except for high resolution pictures/ gifs, read receipts to confirm when messages are sent and how certain messages are sent with better resolution. Plus, also having the ability to send longer messages, along with messages sent over Wi-Fi and cellular.
The problem I was having was I was completely using a stock SMS/MMS android app, but my immediate family (all with apple devices except for one android user) all are using their default messaging apps with RCS. Texting is big with us and I can’t receive any messages, so in order for communication to work, I’m having them download Delta Chat, we make anonymous profiles and talk in a private group chat. This is all happening all because to them I’m going, “off the grid” and They don’t want to turn RCS off, even though that would be easier😒
So, I was able to make a compromise with Delta Chat.
RCS: google and apple can spy on your messages and control it
SMS/MMS: everyone, google, apple, the government, your cell provider, their mother, and their 5th cousin twice removed can intercept and view your messages in plaintext and they are stored in plaintext forever at ISPs for anyone that wants them. I remember as a teen when my mother would get emails with documents containing every text that me or my sister had ever sent, from the SMS provider.
Not to mention all the technical limitations. Nobody at all should be using SMS in 2026.
Any encrypted message service (signal, delta chat, simplex, matrix, XMPP, etc...) Is a huge improvement to SMS in every way.
Uhhhh nope, just the carrier(s) (and the government)
SMS/MMS is famously possible to intercept, by anyone, what are you talking about?
Otherwise it would be sufficient 2FA and we wouldn't have to bother devising other methods.
Intercept how? SMS is overwhelmingly the default 2FA. So much so that many banks and companies won't let you not use it.
One of the first links that came up: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/03/16-attack-let-hacker-intercept-a-t-mobile-users-text-messages/
Is SMS insecure? Absolutely. Is Apple, Google, et all maliciously SIM swapping users? Absolutely not. What are you talking about?
That was an example, the point is it is possible to intercept it. It's been done in the wild - again that's why there's such need for other methods of 2FA.
Re: Apple or Google That's even easier for them, because, you know, they've got access to the phone. Heck, famously Apple had a bug/feature where it stored text of notifications which affected Signal, too. In that case it was law enforcement who took advantage of that, though.
I wouldn't go around sounding the alarm about SMS, because I don't think many people send stuff that shouldn't be plaintext via SMS. I like using SMS, actually, because how simple it is and you don't need 4G for that.
But the fact is messages can be read one way or another. If you want to conspire, definitely use something else.
Okay, so no mobile chat apps are safe?
The point here is that Apple and (especially) Google are most certainly collecting your data when using RCS. And only the carriers and the govt are collecting your data in SMS, not Google or Apple.
In that way, I don't think any RCS is superior in any way outside of functionality.
Okay, one last time. Those are two different issues.
The whole point of this thread was that it was possible to intercept the messages. That's all. I doubt the OP needs to worry about that. But it's possible as was stated by the other poster.
It's like claiming that mail can't be intercepted. Of course it can, but generally speaking you don't have to worry about that. Though it would be foolish to claim otherwise (especially when one quick web search can show you cases when someone successfully pulled it off)
Good day.
Edit: typos
the default in america
Developed countries use literally anything else. TOTP apps, encrypted apps, Card reader code generation, identity providers, 3rd party verification programs, etc...
America uses it because it is cheap and easy and it pushes the infrastructure cost to someone else, not because it is secure. My american bank I keep only had SMS from american numbers to start, now they have TOTP app support, passkey support, and are going to phase out their SMS because of security.
Also, SIM phishing is pretty common... There doesn't have to be any physical access to the phone. It is a standard phishing attack and they get all your SIM details and spoof it in an automated system.
No.
No one was discussing security.
I’m not really picking up from your link what you’re trying to say to be honest. Did you read what you linked? Why use a AI marketing platform article instead of one of the myriad of technical docs about it?
It’s a protocol, and if messages are sent to non-RCS compatible devices they should not be sent as RCS, by default. It’s on your carrier.
Where is this otherwise?
Also why use that over signal? All around I’m confused by the “solution” to your “problem”
After googling it’s an android only problem with their messages app, shot yourself in your own foot. But you can just use another app that supports RCS and move on?
That part makes sense - Google Messages is the only RCS-compatible Messaging App. Though I don't think SMS is an acceptable fallback these days anyway. Not encrypted, goes through your carrier.
With the link, I was just showing what the difference was and how much your really not missing unless your concerned with certain features. Also, how the hell is that AI? It looks like a regular general blog post to me, where are you getting the AI part from?
I’m on a degoogled device, you don’t have RCS unless you’re using MicroG and gets an app that uses it. I don’t want to use it and for some reason, regardless of turning RCS on/off, messages are not working properly, so I decided to pick Delta Chat. it’s easy to use, straightforward and I direct everyone to one place. What’s the fucking problem?
Signal uses the google play store. I would have to use microG to use it and I don’t want to do that. What’s the problem, with that?
I also picked Delta chat because in the states, we have been having serious issues lately with Cellular power outages. I still want to connect with my family if, god forbid we have a complete blackout. I know as well there are other messaging apps for that case as well.
You people on this freaking app annoy the shit out if me, and get so easily triggered, when someone doesn’t pick the same apps, applications, products or procedures when using FOSS. Its fucking annoying honestly. FOSS is fucking FOSS for a reason
Do you disable SMS too? It's far, far less secure than RCS so I'm not sure why you'd avoid RCS but not SMS.
You do you boo-boo
You’re just being confidently wrong about the things you’re saying
Wouldn't it not automatically switch to SMS because you turned off RCS?
I was having issues with that on my mother’s phone. For some reason, it wouldn’t work, but yes that’s what it’s supposed to do.
another odd thing too, when I would send messages, they would see it but if they would text back, I wouldn’t get any of their messages. It’s like iMessage and google messages on their phones was not turning off RCS for some reason.
I only have two relatives that I was able to text with no problems only because they were not using google messages. (They’re on android as well but not degoogled like myself)
"Oh noo, it doesn't work perfectly, oopsie😜, guess you'll have to go back using RCS hehe 😄"
😂 you wish
If you want a variation on Delta Chat, there's also Arcane Chat, which is made by one of the devs of Delta, and both are compatible with each other. Just for like, you know, options.