Post: #1

Any of you tech savvy guys heard about this? This looks pretty interesting.

The technology uses a sophisticated peer-to-peer encryption technique that allows users to send encrypted files of up to 60 megabytes through a “Silent Text” app. The sender of the file can set it on a timer so that it will automatically “burn”—deleting it from both devices after a set period of, say, seven minutes. Until now, sending encrypted documents has been frustratingly difficult for anyone who isn’t a sophisticated technology user, requiring knowledge of how to use and install various kinds of specialist software. What Silent Circle has done is to remove these hurdles, essentially democratizing encryption. It’s a game-changer that will almost certainly make life easier and safer for journalists, dissidents, diplomats, and companies trying to evade state surveillance or corporate espionage. Governments pushing for more snooping powers, however, will not be pleased.

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology...re_toolbar

Post: #2

here's the thing: never trust an encryption scheme that hasn't been published and peer-reviewed

i'm sure these guys aren't using any new algorithms, but nonetheless: i would stay away until they have released every last detail and their system has been approved by leading researchers

apart from that: looks like it's old techniques wrapped up in an easy-to-use interface
might be worth it for people who need encryption but lack the time to read up on current methods

Post: #3

I checked out the article and their website and it looks like it's not true peer-to-peer as there is a central server and the founder was quoted as saying that the company can turn off your account if they don't like your 'activities' on the app.

Post: #4

I'm working developing some privacy apps, including voice changing for live phone calls, encrypted VOIP and phone calls, encrypted chat and sms.

I'm also toying around with bandwidth bonding from many GSM modems to a fast server in a datacenter.

My team has so many projects going on that even managing the programmers for these side-obsessions is a drain on our core projects.

If anyone here has some expertise in these areas and would be interested in working with the programmers for hobbyist reasons, PM me. You'd get the apps created for free of course, and I might be able to offer more stuff. You'd have to love tech puzzles to be into this, I'd guess. I just can't afford the time for another obsession just now.