[talk] Encrypted Chat Applications (aka not Signal)

[George Rosamond]

On 2/13/20 8:56 AM, Shawn Webb wrote:
> On Wed, Feb 12, 2020 at 03:41:01PM -0500, Isaac (.ike) Levy wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I wanted to ask if folks have any preferred end to end encryption communications software they like, for chat/txt type messaging?  Quite specifically:
>>
>> I'm looking for:
>> - Stuff which relies on user-created encryption keys (pgp/gpg or otherwise)
>>   - optionally, has a distributed trust validation model built in (gpg signing use would do it)
>> - Stuff which relies on generalized network/messaging infrastructure
>>   - Anyone remember gpg plug ins for irc clients way back when?
>>   - Remember when gpg over xmpp got hot?
>>
>> I am *not* looking for:
>> - Anything which replaces distributed trust (gpg and human validation), with cenralized authority (Signal, iMessage, ssl/tls/CA based models-)
>> - Maybe apps can run on popular mobile platforms (iOS, Android)
>> - Maybe apps which can run on desktop (Pidgn?  Does it have these features?)
>>
>> Any thoughts?
> 
> Back in the day, I used to make heavy use of SILC[1]. I haven't really
> kept up-to-date with it, but it seems like it's still maintained.
> 
> [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SILC_(protocol)
> 

Ah SILC.  I was a big fan and user myself.

I sort of think there won't be one answer for Ike's needs... but I'd be
curious to hear more input.

g