services:matrix:encryption
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services:matrix:encryption [2021/08/10 11:54] – Remove the (possibly outdated?) section on upgrading encryption behrmj87 | services:matrix:encryption [2021/11/29 16:24] (current) – typo fix Sessin -> Session behrmj87 | ||
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==== The somewhat short story ==== | ==== The somewhat short story ==== | ||
- | When using encryption in a room (or direct chat) all messages in that chat will be encrypted. | + | Some chats you encounter will be encrypted. Direct conversations are encrypted by default and encryption for rooms for multiple people can be switched on. When using encryption in a room (or direct chat) all messages in that chat will be encrypted. |
* Have one running session (in a browser on your computer, on your phone, wherever), so that new sessions can authenticate against the running session (cross-signing, | * Have one running session (in a browser on your computer, on your phone, wherever), so that new sessions can authenticate against the running session (cross-signing, | ||
* have access to your recovery passphrase (that you should create when you first log in) to recover your encryption keys when you log into a new session and have no other running sessions to authenticate against. | * have access to your recovery passphrase (that you should create when you first log in) to recover your encryption keys when you log into a new session and have no other running sessions to authenticate against. | ||
- | If either of this is the case, you will keep access to your old encrypted | + | This means, that if you do have encrypted messages, e.g. in a direct chat, and you were only logged into one session, e.g. only in the web client, and you don't have a Security Phrase or Security Key set up, i.e. you log out and decline to set one up, when asked, you will lose access to those messages. |
+ | |||
+ | This may sound difficult, but it's not. Read on for what you need to do. | ||
==== Setting up encryption for the first time ==== | ==== Setting up encryption for the first time ==== | ||
- | When you log in to Element, it will ask you to set up encryption recovery. This step will make sure that you can share encrypted messages across all your devices and different sessions. If you do not wish to use encryption you can skip this step. However as encryption will be used by default we highly recommend setting up encryption. | + | When you haven' |
- | To setup encryption recovery | + | Below the list of active sessions, |
- | {{ : | + | {{ : |
- | **Optional** By default the server backs up your encryption keys, so you can recover your encrypted messages if you loose access | + | Click on **Set up** to start. You will be shown this menu |
- | Additionally you can download a recovery key, which you can use if you forget or loose the passphrase. | + | {{ : |
- | {{ : | + | By default the upper point (//Generate a Security Key//) is selected, but it's better to choose //Enter a Security Phrase//. What's the difference? |
+ | |||
+ | * A //Security Key// is a long random key, that you probably won't be able to memorise. It's purpose is to be stored somewhere safe, e.g. in a password manager like KeePassXC. | ||
+ | * A //Security Phrase// is that: a phrase, something that you will (hopefully) be able to remember, because you choose it, e.g. by a [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Also, when you generate a Security Phrase, you will be offered to generate a Security Key as well. So why not get both for the price of one? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once you click **Continue** you can enter your passphrase | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | which you then need to confirm | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | Afterwards you will be offered to also get your Security Key | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | And to finish the setup, you need to confirm everything with your //ZEDAT password// | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | After you're done with you can have a look at the settings again, where it will look like this if you were successful. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | This is also where you can start over - via the **Reset** button - if you forget your Security Phrase and/or lose your Security Key, but still have access to your session, because you never log out. | ||
==== Verifying a session ==== | ==== Verifying a session ==== | ||
- | To access your encryption history and for other users to verify you it is necessary to verify a new session. To verify a session you can either confirm a new session from an existing session or enter your recovery passphrase. | + | To access your messages from encrypted chats, e.g. direct conversations, |
When logging in with a new device you will get prompted to verify it. | When logging in with a new device you will get prompted to verify it. | ||
- | {{ : | + | {{ : |
+ | |||
+ | The three options: | ||
+ | - **Use another login**, which will authenticate against a running session, e.g. on a phone or another computer. | ||
+ | - **Use Security Key or Phrase**, which works without another session, i.e. without another device, but you will need the Security Phrase or Key that you set up earlier. | ||
+ | - **Skip**, which skips authentication, | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Verifying a Session using a Security Phrase === | ||
+ | |||
+ | This is conceptually the easiest so, we'll discuss it first. Click **Use Security Key or Phrase** and in the screen that opens enter either your //Security Phrase// or your //Security Key//. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you enter either correctly, you will be greeted by this happy screen | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Verifying a Session using a Security Phrase === | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you are logged into another session, e.g. on your phone, it's easiest to click **Use another login**. There are multiple ways how this is handled, which depends on where the other session is running, e.g. Element on phones will allow you to do this via scanning a QR code. All methods do require, though, that you have the device where the other session is running on //at hand// otherwise the whole process will block waiting for you to do something on the other device, which is hard to do, if it's far away. | ||
- | If you are logged into another session there will be a popup asking you to verify | + | One method that is always available is comparing emoji shown on both devices. First you will be asked on the device with an already authenticated session whether |
{{ : | {{ : | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | Select to continue and you will be asked for a verification method. Currently the only option is to compare a sting of emojis. | + | Select to continue and you will be asked for a verification method. |
{{ : | {{ : | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | Confirm the emojis match on both devices to complete verifying the session. | + | Confirm the emojis match on both devices to complete verifying the session and you get the happy result of a verified |
- | Alternatively you can select to verify a session by using your recovery passphrase: | + | {{ :services: |
- | {{ : | ||
==== Deleting a session ==== | ==== Deleting a session ==== | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | on the verification dialog after login and instead of entering your security phrase or key, which you've lost, click the **Reset all** link on the bottom, next to *Forgotten or lost all recovery methods?* | + | on the verification dialog after login and instead of entering your security phrase or key, which you've lost, click the **Reset all** link on the bottom, next to //Forgotten or lost all recovery methods?// |
You will then be asked to confirm | You will then be asked to confirm | ||
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And clicking **Reset** will sign out of all your old sessions and delete all keys, followed by guiding you through the procedure to generate new ones described above. | And clicking **Reset** will sign out of all your old sessions and delete all keys, followed by guiding you through the procedure to generate new ones described above. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== I'm asked to authenticate every time I open my browser. What am I doing wrong? ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | You will need to reauthenticate (that means: type in your recovery passphrase or use another session to authenticate your new one) whenever you log out of [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | On Firefox you can do this on the //Privacy & Security// page of the settings in the section //Cookies and Site Data//. If you have checked //Delete cookies and site data when Firefox is closed//, this is the reason for needing to reauthenticate after every time you close Firefox. Click the //Manage Exceptions// |
services/matrix/encryption.1628596462.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/08/10 11:54 by behrmj87