Berty Messenger for iOS and Android - Zero Trust Open Source Peer-to-Peer Messenger based on IPFS protocol

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 13:47:43 -0300

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

No Face, No Name, No Number, No SIM card, No Internet! Berty is a messenger that doesn’t require any of your personal data or network connection (using Bluetooth Low Energy BLE). All conversations are encrypted with end-to-end encryption, in a fully distributed network.

It is a peer-to-peer messenger with no servers, no cloud - your data is only stored on the device where Berty is installed and used. No one would be able to access the data or shut the app down, not even the developers.

Being P2P, it means the IP address needs to be available to route messaging, but their site explains a bit about how they've tried to mask this. Whilst Briar is an excellent alternative, it is still Android only. The closest alternative is maybe Jami, but it lacks a non-Internet Bluetooth alternative if I recall correctly. Interestingly, Berty also can use Airdrop (iOS to iOS) and Android's Nearby as alternative protocols.

You can share your details and add contacts via a QR code, public key, or an invite link. It is currently available on both iOS and Android, with desktop clients to follow.

See Berty · Berty Technologies

#technology #messenger #berty #P2P #IPFS #privacy

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show all 10 comentários

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:32:03 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

@Graveyard Leprechaun it is often the case with P2P networks as each node is a node on its own. On SecureScuttlebutt my iOS phone is one node and my desktop a different one. The more secure and resilient a service, generally the more difficult it is to use. Remember NO central server or central syncing with P2P>

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:59:18 -0300

Graveyard Leprechaun

citizenzero@diasp.org

Well, that's a shame. Sacrifices must be made for privacy, of course, but as an average user with a low threat model, making such sacrifices is unfortunately not worth my time. Thanks for the informed answer(s), though!

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 14:21:35 -0300

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

@Graveyard Leprechaun pleasure - key to remember also is that P2P and many decentralised network so not work based on phone numbers or e-mail address, so contacts like we know on a phone are basically useless for finding or connecting. Same goes for XMPP.

Basically you suggest to Jane that she gets onto say Berty, and she'll send you a QR code or profile ID, and you add her to your Berty to try establish contact. P2P is truly anonymous, so there is no scanning a contact list to see who else is on.

It's security/privacy vs ease of use - you either have privacy or you don't. So yes you're quite correct, it's more diffult and generally 99% of your own friends/contacts are not on the service ;-)