When using Skype, users often encounter a problem with sending messages. Today we will try to figure out why this function fails and find the best methods to fix the error.
What this error might look like and why it occurs
First you need to figure out what the problem is.
- Messages from you do not leave, and the system constantly reports an error.
- The email has been sent but cannot be downloaded.
- In the conversation, you can see that the message was sent, but information about its receipt by the interlocutor is not displayed.
All of these options have similarities, but the troubleshooting process for each problem may be different. First of all, check if your friend is using security settings. He could turn them on randomly, without even knowing it himself. If so, then in this case you are powerless. It remains only to ask him to check the settings and, if possible, disable security.
If the settings are in order, then the “trick” is hidden elsewhere and you need to look for it at home.
Update Skype - the first solution
Check which version of Skype is running on your device. If the messages simply stopped being sent, this indicates that you and your friend have different versions and they are not visible to each other. In this case, the messenger needs to be updated. The procedure is as follows:
- sign in to Skype;
- at the top of the program window is the "Help" button, click on it;
- from the pop-up menu, select "View updates";
- if the system notifies you that updates are available, you need to download them.
In order not to guess whether your version is new or outdated, turn on the automatic update mode, this is done like this:
- open Skype;
- in the horizontal menu at the top of the screen, click on "Tools";
- go to "Settings";
- click on "Turn on automatic updates";
- save your changes.
If this method did not help, then the breakdown may be in the browser. Update Internet Explorer if the first method didn't help. Reinstalling "Internet Explorer" consists of the following actions:
- click the "Start" button;
- go to the toolbar;
- select the line "Install updates";
- in the list that opens, find "Internet Explorer" and click on it;
- a window will appear on the screen asking you to remove all updates, confirm;
- now restart your PC;
- Go to Skype and check everything again.
Such manipulations should eliminate the error that has arisen. In the case when this option did not give a positive result, check your Internet connection. Due to lack of access or insufficient bandwidth, the chat may not work.
What are you cunning, skype!
Update disabled in settings:
But you're still trying hard to upgrade yourself!
I feel you won’t even ask soon, cunning ...
An inexperienced reader will ask what is wrong? Why not upgrade? I already updated and after a couple of hours I rolled back the version. In the new Skype, you need to add everyone as a friend so that this new friend can write something to you - messaging is disabled until the request is accepted! Shikardos =)
And it would seem that he returned the previous version, everything is fine. But due to the fact that Skype is so tricky (I didn’t give a damn about my settings), it outwitted me - it took it and updated it from almost all customers (well, not everyone will click “fuck you” “not now” so hard every morning when system boot). And voila, Skype won! Now I can answer them, but they can't ask anything until I add them as a friend! Shikardos =)
- Now, just to give a link to the cost of the design, you need to add a person as a friend.
- Now just to answer that no, I'm not doing wordpress stuff, I need to make friends with a friend.
- Now, just in order to watch how the interlocutor is silent (and he added me just in case, as it turned out, I’ll never be useful to him), I have to be his friend!
I already have over 500 contacts on dodgy skype. Every day, the finished program, he sends me to congratulate some obscure people on their birthday. Damn, even my name-calling of contacts does not help: there are already 42 Dmitry in different configurations (Dmitry / Dima / Dmitry / and so on), 35 Alexandrov! Shikardos =)
Here a person was added, I sent him to my site, and he is silent. How much should I wait? 5 minutes? 2 hours? 3 weeks? When can I remove it? Previously, I would simply not add it to the list before starting a joint project. Now schikdos =) some ...
But unfortunately, you have to use it, because it is a very popular messenger among customers =(
It is paradoxical, but true: with all the variety of instant messengers, you usually don’t have to choose them - people just use the same things that their friends and acquaintances use. But what if secrecy is really important? In this article, we will go through the list of modern messengers and see what protection guarantees each of them has.
Recently there was a poll on "Hacker" "", and the most popular answer (Telegram) was seriously alarming. How far has it gone if even the average Hacker reader has already lost touch with reality after the marketing headcrab attack (pictured)?
We have compiled a list of messengers to see how each of them is doing with security. The selection includes both popular and promising programs in terms of security. We warn you that we will delve into the technical side as much as it is necessary for the average user, no further.
In many ways, we repeated the path of the authors of a series of articles by the Electronic Frontier Foundation called Secure Messaging Scorecard, but chose other criteria - in our opinion, more important ones.
Criteria
FOSS
Is the source code of the messenger distributed under the terms of one of the free licenses? If yes, is it open source development? How closely do developers interact with the community? Are pull requests accepted? All this is important to consider when choosing.
Degree of centralization
One of three options is possible here:
Possibility of anonymous registration and use
For some services, the phone may be needed only to protect against spam during registration, therefore, it is very easy to use the number rental services for SMS.
In other cases, the messenger is tightly tied to the phone. This is bad because if two-factor authentication is not enabled, then when you gain access to this number, you can log into your account and merge all the data. But even if two-factor is enabled, it still remains possible to delete all data from the account. And of course, this is, consider, registration with a passport (we use the realities of the Russian Federation, no others were brought in).
But it is not all that bad. There are instant messengers that allow you to register using a mailbox or a social network account. There are also those where an account can be created in the messenger itself without being tied to something.
Availability of End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)
Some messengers have this feature by default, others can enable it, but there are also those where there is simply no end-to-end encryption.
Synchronization of E2EE chats
Again, this feature is not yet found as often as we would like. Its presence greatly simplifies life.
E2EE Fingerprint Validation Notice
When starting E2EE chats, some messengers offer to check the fingerprints of the interlocutors, others do not offer this openly. But not all messengers have a fingerprint verification function.
Prevent taking a screenshot of a secret chat
Not the most useful feature, because to bypass the ban it is enough, for example, to have a second phone at hand.
Group E2EE Chats
E2EE group chats are usually not a necessary feature, but quite handy. The rule "more than two - speak out loud" should be left for children.
E2EE Fingerprint Verification Notice in Group Chats
When adding a new interlocutor with whom fingerprints have not been verified to a secret group chat, not all messengers offer to check his fingerprints. Because of this omission, the meaning of secret chats is lost.
Protecting the Social Graph
Some instant messengers collect information about the user's contacts and other data, for example, who the user called, how long he talked. There are on this topic.
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We have selected only a part of the criteria that can play a role in choosing a messenger. There are others, but they are not always security related. A group of scientists from European universities put everything into order in Obstacles to the Adoption of Secure Communication Tools (PDF). It is also always useful to get acquainted with the results of an independent audit, if any. For example, in the case of Signal, such an audit was carried out (PDF).
Telegram
License: formally - GPLv3. However, an important part of the development is closed. If you look at the repositories, you can see that recently there has been some movement only in the web version. Alas, in this form it is rather an illusion of openness
Degree of centralization: centralized
No
Availability of E2EE: implemented, but as an addition. Chats are not encrypted by default.
Synchronization of E2EE chats: no. Secret Chat can only be used from one device, it will not be available from another device
no. Users can go to the settings themselves to compare prints
Yes, but it doesn't work on all devices
E2EE group chats: No
Social graph protection: No
The messenger, created by the team of Pavel Durov, is based on the MTProto correspondence encryption technology. At the moment, it is partially blocked on the territory of Russia, but this blocking is a separate topic for conversation.
Messenger is ambiguous. There is a lot of noise around him, but is he justified? There is no access to the sources, chats are not encrypted by default, there is no social graph protection (all your contacts are stored on Telegram servers), there are no group E2EE chats, E2EE chats are not supported in the desktop version of the program, only in the mobile version, the messenger is centralized, messages are stored on the server (and, as already noted, they are not encrypted), and with all this there is no possibility of anonymous registration.
If you want to use Telegram, don't forget to create secret chats to protect your correspondence. In the mobile version, for this you need to select the New Secret Chat command. Of the desktop versions, only a few support secret chats (for example, one of the two clients for macOS).
In a secret chat, messages are encrypted and are not stored on the messenger's servers. You also cannot take a screenshot of a secret chat, but nothing prevents you from taking a screenshot of such a chat.
Signal
License: AGPLv3
Degree of centralization: centralized
Possibility of anonymous registration and work: no. Other than a phone number, there are no other options
Availability of E2EE: there is
Synchronization of E2EE chats: there is
E2EE Fingerprint Verification Notice: no. Users are prompted to scan QR codes from each other or compare fingerprints
Disable screenshots of secret chats: can be turned on or off
E2EE group chats: there is
E2EE Fingerprint Verification Notice in Group Chats: No
Social graph protection: there is
The Signal messenger was developed by the American startup Open Whisper Systems, where, apart from the two founders, only a few people work. To encrypt messages, a cryptographic protocol created specifically for it is used - Signal Protocol. It is used for end-to-end encryption of calls (voice and video), as well as regular messages. The Signal protocol has since been used by other messengers: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Allo.
It would seem that in this case, any messenger can become as secure as Signal. But, as practice shows, no. Unlike Signal, where encryption is enabled by default, these messengers have it disabled. To enable it in Facebook Messenger, you need to activate Secret Conversations, and in Google Allo - Incognito Mode.
Although Signal is centralized, the code is open and distributed under a free license. Signal has support for E2EE group chats, social graph protection, and timed disappearing messages support.
However, do not confuse protection with anonymity. Signal is not anonymous: when registering, you must specify the phone number to which the messenger is linked. As for disappearing messages, this feature is also found in other messengers, for example, in Viber and Telegram (in the secret chat menu, you need to select the Set self-destruct timer command).
Virus attacks on smartphones are a common problem for modern users. Sometimes they bring only discomfort, but some cause material damage due to the duration of the hidden action. This material will tell you under what circumstances the “Change messaging application” system proposal appears - how to remove it, where did the strange application come from in Samsung?
What it is?
Change messaging app is a smartphone OS notification prompting you to switch to a third-party SMS/MMS app.
This window appears when a new program appears in the system, designed for such actions. A striking example in recent years is the so-called "SMS / MMS New", which has spread to Android (in particular Samsung brand devices) and similar variations, like Flyme.
Let's decide right away - this is a virus that appeared on your phone due to downloading dubious software outside of Google Play. It spread after the malware was installed. By the way, the message with the offer may not appear - the utility sometimes changes the "default" application itself for receiving / sending text information.
In some cases, smartphones block such malware altogether. For example, Huawei Honor gives a message: "The system messaging application is not the default."
What threatens such a virus?
A seemingly harmless change in the program for sending SMS messages can bring impressive losses to the owner of the device. The fact is that the software in question is quite “skillful”, which means it sneaks into the root of the system, completely blocking the ability to exchange messages:
- For example, SMS/MMS New subscribes to dubious mailing lists for you - this increases the chance of accidental clicks that automatically activate paid subscriptions to Internet resources.
- In addition, the application sends messages to the infamous "short numbers" - connects the services needed by fraudsters from the operator's partners, simply earns money on paid numbers.
- Can be used as a source of communication for hackers (a rarity) so that law enforcement agencies cannot trace the real source of the transmitted information.
- Intercepts the text of messages, stealing personal information, data from bank cards, creates a telephone database for subsequent sale.
As a result, the user loses space amounts for sending messages, paid subscriptions and other useless (not for scammers) manipulations with the number. All this happens in the background, without arousing the suspicion of the owner.
How to remove "Change messaging app"
If you accidentally allowed changing the application for sending SMS or saw a notification window “An error occurred in the SMS / MMS application” on your phone, immediately follow the instructions below:
- We turn off the smartphone.
- We hold down the power button (on) together with the middle button ("Menu").
- Thus, the "Safe Mode" of work is launched, which will help solve the problem quickly and without special skills.
- We go to the "Settings" section, look for the "Security" column.
- We find the item "Administration" - there we study in detail each program present, we find something like "NewSMS", "New SMS / MMS".
Uncheck this utility. - Be sure to open your phone's settings (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.) and enable the slider there, setting your default program.
Thus, the user transfers virus software from under the protection of the system. Next - download any antivirus, we recommend Dr.Web (you can use the Light version for a one-time cleaning), AVG, Kaspersky, Eset NOD.
We carry out a deep scan, delete all infected files. We also go to the “Applications” column in the Settings, look for the “Messages” line. In the new window, press "Clear data" and "Clear cache".
Cleanup
Sometimes a virus penetrates too deep into the system - it's better to play it safe and take a few more steps:
- Again, go to "Applications", go to the "All" tab.
- We comb the list in search of a process of the type "com.android.mms" - we reset it in a new window when opened.
- A strange way, but some recommend changing the default settings to complete the “recovery” procedure - for example, the font from medium to small / large.
Conclusion
An important amendment - sometimes failures in sending SMS / MMS messages can occur when updating the firmware, here you just have to wait for further updates from the manufacturer. We hope this article helped you deal with the messaging app change notification – enjoy using it!
The Skype for Business instant messaging options window is where you can apply options related to spell checking, changing fonts, and displaying emoticons.
Here are the instructions for opening the IM Options window.
Setting instant messaging options
On the Instant Messaging Options page, select the options you want to use for instant messaging.
Check spelling as you type Select this option if you want Skype for Business to mark misspelled words with a red squiggle.
Hide images in posts Select this option to display only the conversation or tabs in the message window, not images.
When copying messages Choose whether to copy the message, name and time, not just one message.
Enabled tabbed conversations Select this option to enable tabbed conversations. This option allows you to monitor multiple text conversations at the same time. If you are participating in multiple conversations at the same time, a tab for each one will appear in the upper left corner of the conversation window. Just click on the conversation tab to go to it. To limit the display of each conversation to one line, select the Show Tabs check box only in one line .
Change font Click to change the default font size, style, and color in the instant messages you send. To apply these font settings to the instant messages you receive, select the checkbox Apply settings to incoming messages.
Show emoji in messages Select to display emoticons in instant messages. To display emoji typographic equivalents, uncheck this box. By default, emoticons are animated. If they bother you, you can turn them off by clicking Disable emoji animation.