EW refers to "security key" instead of "recovery key"

[richvdh]

Users can create a passphrase which is used to encrypt their server-side secret storage; alternatively we can generate a key for them.

In the past we called the passphrase a "recovery phrase", or the generated key the "recovery key"; matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#5533 changed the terminology to be "security phrase/key".

However, the Element product team have decided to switch back to "recovery key/phrase", per element-hq/element-meta#2394 (comment).

There are lots of references to "security key" throughout the application which will need an update. We'll also need to add some help text which says "recovery key was previously known as security key", or words to that effect.

[colemickens]

Scrolling through a Matrix room today, still seeing people confused about this stuff. Trying to remember the rules my mom taught me, but yeesh. For all that is Matrix E2EE and the UX of it all, a tiny change here would go a long way.

[richvdh]

@dbkr is this, by any chance, anywhere on your radar in relation to your work on #26468?

[dbkr]

Yep, it is 100% on the radar for the crypto settings work.

[bjherbison]

Here's an example where the UI is confused about the terminology. I was told my key storage was out of sync. (Which is your problem, why are you bothering me. But anyway.) I was asked to click a button to enter a recovery key. When I clicked it asked me for a security key. I entered a security key saved from 2020 and I was told it was incorrect.

I then entered a recovery key created earlier than the security key and it was accepted.