Tor’s New Messenger App Has Launched
Last Thursday, the Tor Project announced the release of Tor Messenger (beta version),
open-source instant messenger client for those that are concerned about surveillance and privacy.
The app, which was being worked on for a long time, is designed for privacy by default.
The easy-to-use message client integrates OTR (off-the-record) protocol for encrypting messages and routing them as seamlessly over Tor Network as web data is transferred by the Tor Browser.
Tor Messenger’s beta version is available for Mac, Windows, and both 32-bit as well as 64-bit Linux.
Tor Messenger’s beta version is available for Mac, Windows, and both 32-bit as well as 64-bit Linux.
Tor Messenger is compatible with the “Jabber” or XMPP chat protocol used by Google and Facebook accounts and desktop clients such as Pidgin for Windows and Adium for Mac.
In addition, the beta client supports Twitter, IRC, Yahoo, and others. The app can be downloaded in seconds and users can start shooting messages to their existing contacts.
The messages will be strongly encrypted and tunneled through the maze of Tor’s volunteer computers available worldwide in order to hide the IP address of the sender.
In addition, the beta client supports Twitter, IRC, Yahoo, and others.
The app can be downloaded in seconds and users can start shooting messages to their existing contacts.
The messages will be strongly encrypted and tunneled through the maze of Tor’s volunteer computers available worldwide in order to hide the IP address of the sender.
All said and done, Tor Messenger is all set to become not only a popular, but also a powerful way of sending surveillance-resistant messages instantaneously.
Kate Krauss said about the Tor Messenger in message to WIRED that a user’s chat is encrypted and remains anonymous, hidden from snoops, irrespective of whether the snoopers are companies trying to sell products to them or governmental agencies of foreign countries.
She also said that users are not required to rebuild their contacts lists as the program makes use of the pre-existing chat protocol.
Users have to just use their Jabber address or their old contacts.
Tor Project, a non-profit, operates the Tor network, a system of servers and routers that are designed to make it more difficult to track online users and access the hidden areas of the pages hosted on .onion websites and also disguise online activity.
Tor Messenger, one of the projects of the non-profit is based on Instantbird. The messaging app Instantbird enables users to connect to different messenger systems.
Tor Messenger, one of the projects of the non-profit is based on Instantbird.
The messaging app Instantbird enables users to connect to different messenger systems.
According to Tor Project, the reason for choosing Instantbird is that the messenger’s transport protocols are in Javascript, a memory-safe language.
Further, Instantbird supports several languages and is an XUL application. By default, the OTR messaging gets implemented, frustrating the efforts of eavesdroppers who strive to know the content of messages. One of the key aspects of the client is the chat interface.
It keeps all the anti-surveillance protocols hidden, eliminating the complexity associated with setting up as well as using anonymizing services.
Further, Instantbird supports several languages and is an XUL application.
By default, the OTR messaging gets implemented, frustrating the efforts of eavesdroppers who strive to know the content of messages.
One of the key aspects of the client is the chat interface.
It keeps all the anti-surveillance protocols hidden, eliminating the complexity associated with setting up as well as using anonymizing services.
Tor Messenger builds on networks that users are familiar with. This enables them to continue their communications in a way that their contacts are capable of doing or are willing to do. Traditionally, this works in the client-server model.
The metadata, especially the relationship between contacts, is logged by the server. However, the user’s route to the server remains hidden as the communication is carried out over Tor.
This enables them to continue their communications in a way that their contacts are capable of doing or are willing to do.
Traditionally, this works in the client-server model.
The metadata, especially the relationship between contacts, is logged by the server.
However, the user’s route to the server remains hidden as the communication is carried out over Tor.
Popular Instant Messaging programs such as Adium and Pidgin had always had the option to encrypt messages by switching on the OTR and even transmit them over Tor to make it anonymous.
However, Pidgin required users to download an OTR plugin and both the apps do not encrypt messages by default.
Additionally, finicky manual set up is essential if users want to use these apps for routing messages over Tor. On the other hand, services such as Richochet and Pond, don’t reveal users’ contact
However, Pidgin required users to download an OTR plugin and both the apps do not encrypt messages by default.
Additionally, finicky manual set up is essential if users want to use these apps for routing messages over Tor.
On the other hand, services such as Richochet and Pond, don’t reveal users’ contact metadata, but require recipients of messages to use Richochet or Pond.
In addition to turning on these features by default, Tor Messenger can be launched with logging disabled.
If users want to maintain a record of their conversations, they just have to enable logging.
The funding sources for the non-profit Tor Project range from Reddit to the National Science Foundation and the US State Department.
Sukhbir Singh, a Tor developer, said that the beta release of the client is to be used only by people who are interested in helping Tor Project with testing the client. He also added that users should not rely on the Tor Messenger for anonymity at this point in time.
Sukhbir Singh, a Tor developer, said that the beta release of the client is to be used only by people who are interested in helping Tor Project with testing the client.
He also added that users should not rely on the Tor Messenger for anonymity at this point in time.
The release of the beta version of the Tor Messenger is the culmination of many years of work, following three alpha versions released by the developers for destroying bugs and making the system smooth.
The beta version may not be perfect, but the intention of the Tor Project team is to fix the software bugs and release updates in tandem with the Extended Support Releases (ESR) of Mozilla in the future.
The versions that would be released in future are also likely to support encrypted file transfer and Twitter direct messages and automatic updates.
The beta version may not be perfect, but the intention of the Tor Project team is to fix the software bugs and release updates in tandem with the Extended Support Releases (ESR) of Mozilla in the future.
The versions that would be released in future are also likely to support encrypted file transfer and Twitter direct messages and automatic updates.
The Tor network is the standard of online privacy. The Tor Browser running on Tor is the best way to browse the web, revealing only least amount of data.
Now, the Tor Messaging could provide the same level of privacy when it comes to instant messaging. This seamless, simple app both encrypts the instant messages and makes it difficult to trace the details of the person sending them.
The Tor Browser running on Tor is the best way to browse the web, revealing only least amount of data.
Now, the Tor Messaging could provide the same level of privacy when it comes to instant messaging.
This seamless, simple app both encrypts the instant messages and makes it difficult to trace the details of the person sending them.