Encrypt until it’s ripped.

We all understand the specifics of the business in our niche. One of the most important features of our work is the need to be completely anonymous, because no one will pat us on the head for what we do.

Other authors have already covered the topic of configuring a secure system, and I strongly recommend that anyone who has not yet read these important tips, do not be lazy! Read, remember, apply! But today I want to talk about an equally important tool in our work. which provides us with a connection with like-minded people and partners. Messengers and communication methods.

Jabber

At the time when I first started my journey, jabber was almost an alternative given, of course, there were some local stories, but in General, the vast majority of the community used it.

Jabber’s advantages were always obvious. It has always been an open, extensible, decentralized system. In addition its advantages were and still are the following features:

• there is no numbering, there are arbitrary names
• the jabber server can run anyone
• a single server can have multiple names (aliases)
• each server can freely communicate with each
• secure connection to the server is possible
• client-level encryption of sent messages is possible
• it is possible to store the entire chat history on the server

It is absolutely obvious why this messenger was so popular 10 years ago and remains popular among knowledgeable people. But progress does not stand still and the main competitor for today’s old school jabber is telegram!

Telegram

Created in 2013, this messenger was designed to preserve the confidentiality of correspondence at all costs, which it has been coping with for several years. Due to its principled position and unwillingness of the creators to cooperate with the authorities, telegram was repeatedly blocked in different countries. It should be noted that attempts to block such sites were unsuccessful. Thanks to the bots and channels that are available in this messenger. telegram has essentially become a full-fledged social network.

• Protection against unauthorized reading is provided by the use of the MTProto communication Protocol
• there Is an option for correspondence in the “secret chat” – Secret Chat. Thanks to it, you can communicate using encrypted messages.
• The presence of a timer for auto-destructing messages after a specified time
• Ability to transfer large files (up to 1 GB)
• The highest speed of operation, including delivery of your files to the recipient.
• Syncing between users.

Signal

Signal gained popularity after it became known as Edward Snowden’s” favorite messenger”. In 2015, he said that he uses the Signal app every day to communicate with journalists. The Signal messenger is positioned as a highly secure means of information exchange, which uses end-to-end encryption, which should prevent unauthorized access to the content of correspondence. However, as it turned out, there are situations when all efforts to encrypt Signal information are in vain.

Since there are very serious problems with desktop versions of the messenger, namely with the encryption system, I will not describe its advantages here, since if there is at least some risk, it should be avoided! I don’t recommend the Signal for use!

Some common rules.

Whichever messenger you prefer to use, there are some rules that will help you avoid trouble and difficulties in the future. So let’s go through the list:

• Use different accounts for work and personal life!
• Use secret chats and additional encryption when discussing anything that has even a gray tinge!
• Do not use nicknames or other specifications that may give any information about your real identity!
• Always export important negotiations in a telegram!
• If there is a possibility of contact by jabber, always start with it! Many veterans still don’t trust the telegram, although I’m not one of them.
• Use deferred messages if you have a brilliant idea in the middle of the night and can’t wait to share it!

A simple combination of VPN + telegram + tor will help you not worry about your privacy. This is not difficult, but it is extremely necessary!