4 ms·

Kim Dotcom launches end-to-end encrypted audio and video chat service

69 points by fmax30 12y ago

ExpiredLink 12y ago
just like ... Skype?
- imurray 12y ago
  Hopefully not (although possibly) just like Skype: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_security#Eavesdropping_by_design https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_security#Eavesdropping_b... Presumably the encryption of open source SIP clients and Firefox hello are more trustworthy(?).
  - derf_ 12y ago
    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8683593 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8683593
- mironathetin 12y ago
  Skype? Microsoft has systematically ruined skype. It used to be a great service, though.
- Aoyagi 12y ago
  Skype is getting more and more useless with every iteration. Encryption is gone, file transfer first stopped to recognize direct LAN connection between clients and now some of the files get stored "in the cloud", the design is just atrocious, advertisements annoying (thank gods for workarounds). And yesterday my 5.9 installation stopped working, so I have to put up with that.
  - userbinator 12y ago
    Encryption is gone Do you have a link to that? The last time I looked at the news, Skype was using SSL to servers so Microsoft could see the data transferred, and while that's not ideal, it's still very different from your implication that everything in the protocol is now transmitted in the clear.
    - Mandatum 12y ago
      I think he's talking about government backdoors, whereas a service like MegaChat could potentially offer true end-to-end chat.. However this doesn't seem to be the case as A. you're unable to upload your own public key, and B it's still client-side JS. A subpoena would force them to pass on your session logs, encryption keys, etc.
    - Aoyagi 12y ago
      Sure, first websearch result [1] , although I was talking about EFF's evaluation [2]. Of course there is -some- encryption, not plaintext, but it was better before Microsoft came in, or so I hear. But I worded the original post poorly, sorry about that. [1] http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/05/think-your-skype-messages-get-end-to-end-encryption-think-again/ http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/05/think-your-skype-mes... [2] https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard
unimportant 12y ago
He was a professional conman (before he made money with mega by actively pushing pirated content) known for making false claims, so be weary about the reliability of his encryption claims.
- busterarm 12y ago
  Also he's admitted to snitching on people to law enforcement for his own benefit. I wouldn't trust the man with anything private. Ever.
  - byEngineer 12y ago
    Good thing we have the Government to protect us. At least someone we can trust with all we do online.
    - busterarm 12y ago
      No, the point is not to trust anybody (more realistically: vigorously evaluate your Web of Trust), but you should especially not trust someone who is known to be untrustworthy.
      - byEngineer 12y ago
        Don't say that! The Government will protect us from the scum Kim or whatever his name. Be a bit more appreciative! And in all seriousness I hate this world where the Government can do whatever it wants to you including spying you on all you do online, but you's rather get pissed off because of a guy pirating software. Get some perspective!
        busterarm 12y ago
        Who said that I care about him pirating software? I'm just as mad about government spying but that doesn't mean that I put my privacy in the trust of a known conman. Just because he is opposed to the US government doesn't make him a hero. The service he is advertising is valuable, but he's duplicitous. Why should I trust him?
richardwigley 12y ago
It's a move that makes sense - his business of allowing you to share and download files puts him at odds with authorities. Given this nature of this business his clients would motivated to use secure communications. He will be able to market to the sort of people who need privacy and have used his services before. If you should trust him [1], and if you like him are another matter - but clearly there's a business opportunity for someone who can market to the megaupload crowd. [1] https://anoninsiders.net/mega-960/ https://anoninsiders.net/mega-960/ ------------------------------ Edit: Changed 'like' to 'motivated' as it describes the situation better (see Zigurd's comment below)
- dublinben 12y ago
  I wish he would use his stature to promote existing solutions like Jitsi or Tox. That won't contribute to his bank account though, so it's a non-starter.
  - longlivegnu 12y ago
    I feel like tox is slowly dying, https://github.com/irungentoo/toxcore/issues/1186 https://github.com/irungentoo/toxcore/issues/1186
    - qznc 12y ago
      If there are multiple dissatisfied devs, why not fork?
- jonknee 12y ago
  > his clients would like to talk to each other without someone listening in That also encompasses almost everyone on Earth.
  - Zigurd 12y ago
    It should. But as many have pointed out here, in reality people need motivation, and most people don't have it. Sex, drugs, copying, political dissidence, etc. You have to start with a market of the motivated, who may already be using less-convenient tools.
leke 12y ago
This would be a nice feature on an android app. Hangouts is good, but I just don't trust google with my privacy any more.

69 points by fmax30 12y ago

ExpiredLink 12y ago

just like ... Skype?

imurray 12y ago
Hopefully not (although possibly) just like Skype: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_security#Eavesdropping_by_design https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_security#Eavesdropping_b... Presumably the encryption of open source SIP clients and Firefox hello are more trustworthy(?).
- derf_ 12y ago
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8683593 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8683593
mironathetin 12y ago
Skype? Microsoft has systematically ruined skype. It used to be a great service, though.
Aoyagi 12y ago
Skype is getting more and more useless with every iteration. Encryption is gone, file transfer first stopped to recognize direct LAN connection between clients and now some of the files get stored "in the cloud", the design is just atrocious, advertisements annoying (thank gods for workarounds). And yesterday my 5.9 installation stopped working, so I have to put up with that.
- userbinator 12y ago
  Encryption is gone Do you have a link to that? The last time I looked at the news, Skype was using SSL to servers so Microsoft could see the data transferred, and while that's not ideal, it's still very different from your implication that everything in the protocol is now transmitted in the clear.
  - Mandatum 12y ago
    I think he's talking about government backdoors, whereas a service like MegaChat could potentially offer true end-to-end chat.. However this doesn't seem to be the case as A. you're unable to upload your own public key, and B it's still client-side JS. A subpoena would force them to pass on your session logs, encryption keys, etc.
  - Aoyagi 12y ago
    Sure, first websearch result [1] , although I was talking about EFF's evaluation [2]. Of course there is -some- encryption, not plaintext, but it was better before Microsoft came in, or so I hear. But I worded the original post poorly, sorry about that. [1] http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/05/think-your-skype-messages-get-end-to-end-encryption-think-again/ http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/05/think-your-skype-mes... [2] https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard https://www.eff.org/secure-messaging-scorecard

unimportant 12y ago

He was a professional conman (before he made money with mega by actively pushing pirated content) known for making false claims, so be weary about the reliability of his encryption claims.

busterarm 12y ago
Also he's admitted to snitching on people to law enforcement for his own benefit. I wouldn't trust the man with anything private. Ever.
- byEngineer 12y ago
  Good thing we have the Government to protect us. At least someone we can trust with all we do online.
  - busterarm 12y ago
    No, the point is not to trust anybody (more realistically: vigorously evaluate your Web of Trust), but you should especially not trust someone who is known to be untrustworthy.
    - byEngineer 12y ago
      Don't say that! The Government will protect us from the scum Kim or whatever his name. Be a bit more appreciative! And in all seriousness I hate this world where the Government can do whatever it wants to you including spying you on all you do online, but you's rather get pissed off because of a guy pirating software. Get some perspective!
      - busterarm 12y ago
        Who said that I care about him pirating software? I'm just as mad about government spying but that doesn't mean that I put my privacy in the trust of a known conman. Just because he is opposed to the US government doesn't make him a hero. The service he is advertising is valuable, but he's duplicitous. Why should I trust him?

richardwigley 12y ago

It's a move that makes sense - his business of allowing you to share and download files puts him at odds with authorities. Given this nature of this business his clients would motivated to use secure communications. He will be able to market to the sort of people who need privacy and have used his services before. If you should trust him [1], and if you like him are another matter - but clearly there's a business opportunity for someone who can market to the megaupload crowd. [1] https://anoninsiders.net/mega-960/ https://anoninsiders.net/mega-960/ ------------------------------ Edit: Changed 'like' to 'motivated' as it describes the situation better (see Zigurd's comment below)

dublinben 12y ago
I wish he would use his stature to promote existing solutions like Jitsi or Tox. That won't contribute to his bank account though, so it's a non-starter.
- longlivegnu 12y ago
  I feel like tox is slowly dying, https://github.com/irungentoo/toxcore/issues/1186 https://github.com/irungentoo/toxcore/issues/1186
  - qznc 12y ago
    If there are multiple dissatisfied devs, why not fork?
jonknee 12y ago
> his clients would like to talk to each other without someone listening in That also encompasses almost everyone on Earth.
- Zigurd 12y ago
  It should. But as many have pointed out here, in reality people need motivation, and most people don't have it. Sex, drugs, copying, political dissidence, etc. You have to start with a market of the motivated, who may already be using less-convenient tools.

leke 12y ago

This would be a nice feature on an android app. Hangouts is good, but I just don't trust google with my privacy any more.