Toxic and privacy-disrespectful apps
To clean your digital devices from invasive apps is the first step towards a Digital Rebirth, a fundamental principle to start a new path in computer relationships and, why not, even in daily interactions. Security, as an absolute principle, does not exist; every interaction always involves a certain risk. However, the goal is to limit these risks and tend towards a value as close to zero as possible.
One app that we absolutely must abandon is Whatsapp, getting rid of it is a priority to start building a path to digital freedom.
In general, it is advisable to avoid easy-to-use and widely used messaging apps, as they have significant privacy and security vulnerabilities, including:
- Telegram
- Facebook Messenger
- Viber
Briar privacy-proof messaging
Briar is a messaging software designed to ensure maximum privacy and security in communications. It uses a peer-to-peer system that allows you to send secure, censorship-resistant messages without the need for centralized servers. Connectivity is via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Tor, integrating privacy into every aspect. Thanks to end-to-end encryption and decentralized technology, conversations remain private and are available even without Internet access.
Main features:
- Decentralization: Briar operates without central servers, allowing direct communication between users. This approach reduces the risk of surveillance and censorship.
- Metadata Surveillance: Briar uses the Tor network to prevent eavesdropping by reconstructing, through metadata information, which users are talking to each other. Each user’s contact list is encrypted and stored on their device.
- Content Surveillance: All messages are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access them.
- Content Filtering and Censorship: Briar prevents keyword filtering, and thanks to its decentralized design no server can block.
- Offline Operation: Briar can operate even without an Internet connection, using local Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth to send messages.
- Anonymity: Does not require personal information for use, helping to maintain user anonymity.
- Intuitive Interface: The app is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to access and use.
- Group Chat Support: Briar allows the creation of group chats, making it easier for multiple users to communicate.
- Unhackable Groups: The Briar forums have no central server to hack, and every subscriber has access to the content even if he is offline.
- Internet Blackouts Briar can operate via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to maintain information flow during blackouts.
These features make Briar particularly useful in contexts where privacy is paramount, such as activism or in countries with restrictions on freedom of expression.
Briar vs Whatsapp Comparison
| Messenger | Briar | |
|---|---|---|
| Site | Briar Project | |
| Development group | Briar Team | Meta Platforms |
| Pubblication year | 2017 | 2009 |
| Download app n. | 1 Mln+ | 5 Mld+ |
| Cost | - | - |
| Technology | Decentralized peer-to-peer | Centralized |
| Technological infrastructure | No server | Meta, Amazon |
| App Android | Yes | Yes |
| App iOS | No | Yes |
| Web Browser | No | Yes |
| Desktop | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Voice messages | No | Yes |
| Video Calls | No | Yes |
| Group | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange of files | only images | Yes |
| Self-destruct messages | Yes | Yes |
| Backup | No for maximum safety | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Legal jurisdiction | - | United States |
| Search and insert contacts | Onion addresses on TOR network | Phone number |
| Open Source | GPLv3 | No |
| Use of proprietary libraries | No | Yes |
| Encryption protocol | Bramble library | Signal Protocol library |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Post-quantum cryptography | No | No |
| Contact Verification | Yes | Yes |
| Notify if contact’s fingerprint changes | Yes | No |
| Latest security audit | 2023 | - |
| Presence of trackers | No | No |
| Free from advertising | Yes | No |
| Avoid or protect metadata in use | Yes | No |
| Contact list without sharing | Yes | No |
| Use without telephone number | Yes | No |
| Push notifications | Polling (drain battery power) | Google (FCM), Apple (APN), Direct connection (Android) |
In-depth analysis
For security reasons, screenshots cannot be taken from the Briar app, so we recommend reading the instruction manual click here and learning more about some additional technical details click here.
Add a contact
To add a contact when you are physically close, both users must scan the QR code. Alternatively, you can exchange a link generated by the program, all in a very simple way. WhatsApp has accustomed us to using the mobile number in the address book, a simple and intuitive method but, with significant privacy problems, since it remembers that you have transferred to Meta all your contacts!
Message delivery logic
Since there is no central server, if you are offline, messages you have sent or received are held on your mobile phone until the first available moment to be delivered correctly. Technology may be lacking in timeliness but, the Briar team has come up with an additional app Briar Mailbox.
Briar Mailbox is a companion app to Briar Messenger that lets you receive encrypted messages from your contacts while you’re offline. The next time Briar connects to the Internet, it will automatically delete the messages from your inbox.
Likewise, you can send encrypted messages to contacts who are offline, and they will be delivered automatically as soon as your contacts come online.
Conclusions and advice
The Briar app is highly recommended, but if you decide to use it as your sole and exclusive messaging app, it is important to keep in mind that it can drain battery power. This is because notifications are not linked to Android system libraries, which often do not respect user privacy.
To optimize the experience, it may be useful to pair Briar with other apps that respect privacy and offer encryption for calls. This way, you could start a conversation in a main app and then switch to Briar for completely decentralized communication.
It is important to note that backups are not possible, as the app is tied to the device. Therefore, you will need to rebuild your contacts and group memberships. In this scenario, it may be helpful to use a messaging software to help you rebuild your connections.