Briar – Next Step of The Crypto Messenger Evolution

Update: Há uma versão em português. Who still remembers ICQ, AIM and MSN? My first messenger was ICQ and I liked the fact that it was instant. In those days, I didn’t think much about security and was probably too young anyway. We can count ourselves lucky if those tools even used transport encryption. This… Continue reading Briar – Next Step of The Crypto Messenger Evolution

What to use instead of WhatsApp and Threema?

WhatsApp is a messaging app for smartphones that allows you to send (text) messages free-of-charge. After WhatsApp’s recent acquisition by Facebook and in the face of the NSA revelations, many of the millions of WhatsApp users are looking for secure and trustworthy alternatives. Because this effects so many people, we at the Free Software Foundation… Continue reading What to use instead of WhatsApp and Threema?

FSCONS 2010 Divide and Re-Conquer Talks Now Online

Last year in November, FSFE hosted its own track at FSCONS around different topics of decentralized (social) networks and free network services. Now the videos of the talks are finally online for you to see. With the exception of one, they are all in WebM format :) Designed For Decentralisation: Understanding the Internet – Benjamin… Continue reading FSCONS 2010 Divide and Re-Conquer Talks Now Online

Microsoft denies certain countries access to its messenger

My recent blog entries were about Skype and about how companies might eventually abuse the power they have over some of our technology. Many of my arguments against Skype also apply to Microsoft’s instant messenger. Now Microsoft gave one more example that this abuse actually happens. Ars technica writes: Microsoft this week decided to turn… Continue reading Microsoft denies certain countries access to its messenger

Brave New Skyping World Revisited

A vigilant reader of my blog challenged my earlier criticism of Skype thoroughly and even though I felt his remarks could have been tempered a bit, here is my thoughtful response. I am very thankful for all of the comments I receive and encourage more people to express their opinions here. It is only when… Continue reading Brave New Skyping World Revisited