Hi,

I’m looking for an instant messaging ( IM ) apps software/protocol that run on Android and computer

and meet the following requirements :

  • Open source !
  • E2EE
  • Messages are send in direct ! (not passing by a server)
  • handle group
  • Truly private ! ( That’s the tricky part )

 

The closest that I’ve found is Briar

  • +can work without internet ! (bluetooth, local wifi, files !)
  • + use TOR
  • - Mutual party have to exchange key (or your can introduce someone)
  • - sending media suck for now, poor image quality
  • - no call or voice messaging

 

I’ve been looking for alternatives:

  • Session
    • Sadly it keep ALL the conversation into server !!! so it’s a no go.
  • speek
    • I didn’t try it yet, any feedback ?
  • simplex
    • it look very promising ! (didn’t tried it yet)
    • + seem to handle multiple profile in one !
    • + do not require that both party send an invitation !
    • ! I didn’t found (yet) if the messages are send in direct or pass by a server…
      It’s not P2P all the messages pass by servers… too bad.

All post about alternatives or experience with the one that I cited are welcome.

  • moreeni@lemm.ee
    10·
    6 months ago

    The “truly private” req really smells with “I have no threat model and don’t know what am I doing”

    • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
      3·
      6 months ago

      Yeah. What does privacy mean?

      Does it mean nobody knows what you’re saying? Doesn’t mean nobody knows that you’re talking? Doesn’t mean nobody can tell two people have engaged in a conversation?

      In addition to direct observations, you can make indirect inferences from many of those characteristics.

      If I can observe your peer to peer traffic I know who’s talking to who.

      If I can observe your network, onion routing layer, I can determine who is talking to who with high probability

      If I can see network traffic at all, I can determine who our members of a group, if the group messages are delivered simultaneously.

      • KDE@monyet.cc
        2·
        6 months ago

        is rare, but briar as you identified is pretty good. Though android only.

        The trouble with peer to peer is it isn

        theres also notification scandal recently which i think the op doesnt know about

        • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
          1·
          6 months ago

          It was always known, in the threat model.

          Though I think everyone assumed Google required a warrant.

          Even without Google, Apple’s participation and push notifications - signal still has the same capability. Simply because they’ve created a centralized architecture.

        • Gordon_FOPEnglish
          1·
          4 months ago

          Though android only.

          Anyway on Windows, Apple there is no sense to have a privacy apps if the OS it self pump everything it can.

          And on Android it only make sense if you use an AOSP rom, or another but without the google crapware…