But the security feature Cryptocat ultimately offers is different.īut Facebook itself can see, store, or even turn over all the messages their users send to each other.Īfter installing a browser plug-in for Cryptocat, the program connects to Facebook using the same SSL Facebook uses, and shows people their available Facebook friends. It’s called “end-to-end” encryption, and it doesn’t allow Facebook or any other server, including Cryptocat’s own, to see plain text messages. Only the participants in any given chat have the keys to decrypt and read their own chats. All Facebook will see is cyphertext-the mathematical gibberish computers generate to thwart spying eyes.Ĭhatting with Facebook friends who aren’t using Cryptocat is the same as using the standard Facebook interface-secure to the server, and then readable by Facebook. But if a Facebook friend is also using Cryptocat, the program automatically exchanges keys and becomes “end-to-end”-unreadable by Facebook or anyone else not participating in the chat. Kobesissi and other security-minded computer experts have referred to this as opportunistic encryption-getting non-geeks to add some security to their existing communications, rather than have to learn new and difficult tools with user bases that number closer to thousands than billions.įrederic Jacobs, a Switzerland-based developer of encryption software for Open Whisper Systems, tweeted, “You can now send me encrypted messages on Facebook with Opportunistic encryption at its best”-along with a screenshot of a chat. In the post-Snowden era, more non-techies around the world are looking for ways to secure their regular conversations from mass surveillance. ![]() ![]() Many in the crypto-building community believe adding encryption to existing tools is likely to be the best answer.
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