#ADRIOD TOR MESSENGER UPGRADE#

One of those crucial tweaks is off-the-record chat, a strong but easy-to-use layer of encryption that’ll make every chat over Tor Messenger that much more secure. Unsurprisingly, this is because Tor Messenger is built on top of Instantbird, with a few key tweaks added by Tor Messenger developers Arlo Breault and Sukhbir Singh. Set up is mostly quick and easy thanks to a user interface that recalls most of the best features of popular instant messenger programs like Pidgin or Instantbird. That sounds like a small thing, but it means the Messenger can work as a standalone app without having to rely on the Tor Browser or any other program, as many privacy-focused chat clients currently do. Tor Messenger automatically establishes its own connection to the Tor network. Allowing an easy anonymous connection to one of the most popular and politically important social networks on the Web makes Tor Messenger an even more potent tool in beating surveillance and censorship.

The 140-character social network stands out from the other choices here but ultimately makes complete sense. The last network of note here is Twitter. The key, again, is that it’s done easily and with little effort from the user. The inclusion of XMPP crucially adds decentralized and secure options utilizing anonymous Tor hidden services as servers for users looking to avoid the major chat networks. Tor Messenger changes that by handling everything automatically, so it’s only a few seconds until you’re securely connected to your favorite IRC network. Whatever client you use, you’ll have to manually change settings in order to connect over Tor. Right now, connecting to IRC over Tor is a small pain in the ass-and when it comes to privacy, a small pain in the ass is a big red STOP sign for most users. That makes wide adoption a much easier sell. Instead, you can continue to use your favorite social networks simply with the added bonus of extra privacy. This key feature means that users don’t have to choose between privacy and friends. The new application, currently in alpha, distinguishes itself from competitors like TorChat in several ways.įirst, it can be used with many of the most popular IM protocols out there including Facebook Chat, Google Talk, IRC, Yahoo Messenger, and Twitter. Tor Messenger began development one year ago and is due out to the public later this year. The ease of use and power of privacy combine to make clear that this is going to be one of the best instant message clients on the market, bar none.

#ADRIOD TOR MESSENGER UPGRADE#

The newest tool in Tor’s expanding arsenal, Tor Messenger is poised to be a major upgrade to every anonymous messenger in existence. This week, I tested out Tor Messenger, anonymity’s latest answer to Silicon Valley’s voracious appetite for personal data. That’s how they survive and thrive.īut the developers behind the Tor anonymity network are determined to make the Internet more private for everyone, no matter how we use the Web. After all, they suck up your personal information like it’s oxygen. Facebook and Google are not exactly known for privacy.

Adriod tor messenger