Messengers are not tied to your phone number.

[root]

Short review

Wire​

Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.

The messenger is based on the modified Signal protocol for corporate clients, but it can also be used for personal purposes.

Wire supports encrypted chats (up to 128 people) and conference calls (up to 10 people). It allows you to transfer photos, gifs, audio messages and various files, draw and send sketches, and even share the location. The latter is especially convenient if you need to find each other in an unfamiliar area of the city.

The creators of the application admitted that they keep a record of who the users contacted. They also store users' email, phone numbers and names. According to them, this information makes it easier to sync devices and is deleted after the account is deactivated.

Advantages:​

• the ability to register without a phone number, by e-mail;
• can send photos, gifs, audio messages and other files;
• open source - the application is regularly independently tested for vulnerabilities.

Flaws:​

• centralized architecture - the application will stop working if the main server goes down or is blocked.
• the application collects unencrypted metadata (for example, error reports, dates and times of sending messages, lists of chat participants);
• the user agreement allows the Wire administration to share user data “as needed”.

Threema​

Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.

Threema is the messenger used by the Swiss government. All data that Threema transmits (messages, calls, media files and even contact statuses) is encrypted on the user's devices.

Although this messenger is centralized, its server acts as a switch: messages pass through it, but are not permanently stored there.

To register with Threema, you do not need to provide information that can be used to identify the user. Neither anonymous email nor a SIM card is required either. Instead, the first time the application is launched, the user is assigned a random ID.

In addition to text messaging, Threema users have access to voice calls and can share geolocation, voice messages and files. Group chats up to 50 people are supported.

Advantages:​

• anonymous registration;
• the developers are based in Switzerland, where they take personal data laws seriously.

Flaws:​

• iOS and Android clients are closed source;
• due to the fact that developers do not store copies of messages, synchronization between devices is not as convenient as in popular messengers;
• in 2017, this service was included by Roskomnadzor in the Register of Organizers of Information Dissemination; formally, its creators are now obliged to provide information on user actions to Russian government agencies;
• Threema is a paid product, about 250 rubles for the opportunity to use the application for an unlimited time.

Element (formerly Riot)​

Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.

Most messengers use a central server that distributes messages to recipients. In Element, users can connect to any of the many servers created by other users, or deploy their own. This allows you to choose between intermediaries in different countries of the world and change them if necessary.

This messenger supports group chats, voice calls and video calls. In addition, Element allows you to exchange messages with other messengers such as Telegram, Discord, Slack and WhatsApp.

After installing Element, I noticed that the smartphone began to work much longer, because instead of three applications that consume the battery, there was only one left.

Advantages:​

• open source;
• anonymous registration;
• sending messages to other messengers;
• choice of several independent servers and the ability to run your own server.

Flaws:​

• the owner of the server can misconfigure it and create a security risk;
• server administrators sometimes block the sending of messages from other servers. This can interfere with communicating with other Element users.

Briar​

Platforms: Android.

This messenger has a small but loyal audience. It is appreciated for features that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Briar transfers messages from smartphone to smartphone without using a central server. If the distance is long, then Briar sends an encrypted message through the TOR anonymous network.

If the sender and recipient are close, it doesn't even need an internet connection. Then the messenger transfers data directly between smartphones via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Messaging over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can help out a lot. First of all, the moments when the Internet is disconnected come to mind, but Briar helped me communicate with friends during concerts, when the cellular network is congested due to a huge crowd of people in one place.

Briar supports group chats and even lets you organize a forum or personal blog. However, there are no voice messages and calls in it.

Advantages:​

• decentralized - messages are sent directly from user to user;
• all messages are encrypted and stored only on users' smartphones;
• anonymous, registration is not required to use the application;
• open source;
• uses the TOR network for messaging;
• deletes all messages after pressing the panic button.

Flaws:​

• only works on Android smartphones.
• messages are sent only when both the sender and the recipient are online;
• Constant connection to TOR and search for contacts via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi quickly drain the smartphone's battery;
• if you forget your password, you will lose all your correspondence and contact list.

​

Keybase​

Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux.

Keybase is evolving on a "super-app" model like WeChat and therefore supports many features not found in other messengers.

For example, it has built-in cloud storage with file encryption and a cryptocurrency wallet. On the basis of the application, there is a developed network of chats dedicated to information security, information technology and software development. A kind of digital underground, the atmosphere resembles the cozy web forums of the early 2000s. Knowing English, there you can learn a lot of interesting things.

You can also use Keybase to send encrypted messages to twitter, reddit, facebook, github and hacker news users. To do this, it is enough to know their nickname on one of these sites.

Advantages:​

• additional features that other messengers do not have.
• open source;
• does not require registration;
• self-destruction of messages by timer.

Flaws:​

• centralized architecture;
• Keybase was recently acquired by Zoom Video, whose video conferencing application is known numerous security problems ;
• the messenger is difficult to master, and its interface is not translated into Russian.

Wickr me - messenger with self-deleting messages​

A new online messenger that is 100% anonymous on the Internet. Wickr is an app that literally leaves no trace. Wickr destroys your messages not only on your smartphones, phones and computers, but also on the servers through which correspondence takes place. Also, the program itself has a function to completely erase the entire history, after which the messages cannot be restored by any means.

With Wickr, you can transfer text messages, pictures, audio, video and PDF files using various encryption standards (AES 256, ECDH 521, RSA 4096 TLD). Your messages will not contain any names, geolocation data, neither recipient nor sender. In the application settings, you can choose the time period after which messages will be deleted permanently. Welcome to the anonymous universe of Wickr.

In order to use all the features, the sender and recipient must install Wickr on their devices. The Wickr app is available for Google Android and iOS operating systems. It is completely free for all users.

Blockchain Wickr​

Wickr has patented a technology for storing user correspondence and chats on the blockchain. Wickr will be the first messenger to record messages on the blockchain. Messenger users will be able to create chats and set rules for them to automatically delete messages from chats. The rules are stored in the applications of the participants in the conversation and will also be posted on the blockchain network. Room management is distributed and all users entering the room take part in it, and not a centralized server.

Wickr Me uses anonymous accounts. You do not need to enter a phone number, email address or other personal information to create an account.

Pros:

• End-to-end encryption on the client side.
• Encryption algorithms: AES 256, ECDH521, and RSA 4096 with Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS).
• Anonymous accounts.
• Messages and attachments that are deleted after reading.
• Publication of transparency reports and security audits.
• Removing content after a specified time.
• IP addresses and device IDs are not recorded.
• Custom metadata is not recorded.
• GDPR Compliance.

Minuses:

• The code is publicly available on GitHub, but not open source.
• Unusual message management.
• Located in the USA.

Sources: eset trashexpert habr

 

[НСК-СБ]

Interesting, thanks! Soon they will be banned from us, probably.

 

[Детективное агентство Одесса]

Thanks for the list and description. Thanks to!

 

[alexsey1417]

Thank you for your analysis!

 

[Kiril Harchevnikov]

Interesting applications. Thanks for the thorough analysis!

 

[Частный детектив Азербайджан]

Well, if there is then a link to the mail?

 

[Частный детектив. Москва.]

It was interesting to find out. Thank you for the article

 

[Детективное агентство Израиль.]

A short and interesting overview.

 

[Частный детектив. Армения. Ереван.]

Thanks a lot.

 

[David Mamedov]

A short and helpful list.