Installing and setting up chat client

What you have to do

1. Installation
   Download a chat client suitable for your operating system. You can get the "Element" client used on our helpcards from the following External link opens in a new window:Element download page.

   • After successful installation, the "Element" application will open on your desktop or mobile device.

   • Chat client = desktop application or app for mobile devices that enables access to a chat server.

   • For mobile devices, you can get the "Element" client from the App or Playstore.

   • Besides the "Element" client, there are other free chat programs that can be used to access the Matrix server. These are listed here: https://matrix.org/clients.

   • Please note: The app we mean is the “Element” app. A newer app is offered in the Playstore and on the website, which comes from the same manufacturer, has a similar logo and is also similarly named: “Element X”. Unfortunately, access to matrix.hs-furtwangen.de is currently not possible with this application! Please use the “older” version.

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2. Login
   Start "Element". Follow the steps below to connect to the HFU Chat home server:

   • On the welcome page, within the login screen, click the "Login" button.

   • A login screen is displayed.

   • Click on the "Edit" link next to the home server address "matrix.org" to enter the address "https://synapse.matrix.hs-furtwangen.de" at "Other home server". Then click on "Continue".

   • The address is stored as the home server.

   • Ignore the other input fields and click directly on the “Continue with Microsoft” button.

   • (If you have not already done so) now log in with your HFU account and the corresponding 2-factor authentication.

   • Verification takes place and a request for access is displayed.

   • Click on the “Continue” button to continue. (This confirms access to the HFU account by Matrix).

   • A dialog for querying the key backup is displayed.

   • If you have already set up a key backup (setup: see step 3), you can use this to verify yourself.

   • If you do not have the key to hand, the verification does not work or you would like to set up the key backup again, simply click on the close button in the top right-hand corner of the dialog.

   • You have successfully logged in and the chat interface is displayed.

   • Important: do not forget to carry out session verification or set up a new key backup after logging in.

   • If you log out of HFU Chat manually, the next time you log in you will have to verify the newly started session. This assumes that you already have a security key (see Step 3) to do so.

   • It is also possible to login via your browser without installing a client:
     To do this, log in with your HFU account via https://matrix.hs-furtwangen.de.

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3. Set up security key (only done once!)
   We recommend setting up a security key as follows:

   • Click on your name (top left) to open the Profile options drop-down menu.

   • The profile options open.

   • Bring up “Security” in the menu.

   • Click on the “Set up” button in the Encryption section.

   • If you already have a key backup (which no longer works, for example), you can create a new key backup by clicking on “Reset”.

   • Select the "Generate security key" option and then click "Continue".

   • A cryptic key is generated and displayed.

   • Click the "Download" button (see Fig. 3.4) and save the text file with the security key on your computer. After saving, finish the process by clicking "Continue".

   • It makes sense to use a protected area in your file system for storage and save the key with a descriptive name (e.g. as “matrix-schluesselsicherung-00-00-2024”).

   • You have successfully generated and secured a security key for encrypting your messages.

   • A key backup is used to ensure that all messages that you receive or send during your session in the chat client are secured using this key. This means that you can gain access to your chat history by entering this key. This access can also take place from different end devices and takes place with the help of session verification.

   • Why is this important?
     If there is no key backup, all messages received and sent can no longer be assigned to your identity and will be lost to you at the end of the session. You will no longer have access to them after logging in again. These messages are irretrievably lost and cannot be recovered by IT support.

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4. Checking and correcting sessions and cross-signatures
   If you notice that an exclamation mark is displayed next to your name, this indicates unverified sessions and/or incorrect cross-signatures. 

   • Please use the following helpcard Internal link opens in the same window:Check and correct active sessions and cross-signatures (CHAT 10-015) to resolve this issue.

Problems or questions?