随着每年发布大量关于计算机和手机被黑客入侵的新闻报道，对安全可靠的私人对话方式的需求不断增加。
不幸的是，任何存储在互联网上任何地方的服务器上的聊天对话，无论是否加密，都容易受到黑客攻击。因此，聊天隐私的黄金标准是端到端加密。
在本文中，您将了解端到端加密的工作原理，以及提供它的 6 大聊天应用程序。
什么是端到端加密？
他们对正确加密的数字通信的关键（双关语）是创建公钥和私钥。
“密钥”是一种特殊代码，可以解锁信息的加密传输。端到端加密方案(encryption scenario)的工作原理如下：
- 收件人和发件人应用程序(recipient and sender application)都有私钥和公钥。用户的私钥安全地存储在用户的设备上。公钥存储在传输消息的服务器上。
- 当发件人向收件人发送消息时，收件人只能使用仅存储在其设备上的私钥以及只有设备和服务器知道的公钥才能打开消息。
- 当接收者收到消息时，应用程序使用公钥和私钥打开该消息并对其进行解密。
- 这个过程在发送者和接收者交换消息时来回继续。
由于加密发生在一端，并且仅在另一端解密，这称为端到端加密。
这种情况下的消息永远不会以未加密状态存储在 Internet 上的任何服务器上。
几年前，只有少数应用程序提供端到端聊天加密，但今天大多数主要聊天平台都提供完全加密的通信，或者如果需要，可以“打开”端到端加密。
Whatsapp
当谈到私人谈话时，青少年已经让Whatsapp
成为家喻户晓的名字(household name)。由于这种声誉，Whatsapp是最早在使用该服务发送的每条消息中加入端到端加密的消息传递平台之一。
今天，Whatsapp拥有超过 9 亿用户，所有用户都尽可能通过互联网私下发送消息。它适用于移动市场上的所有主要手机，以及Windows 和 MacOS(Windows and MacOS)。
使用Whatsapp(Whatsapp)的加密发生在一台移动设备与另一台移动设备之间。消息仅存储在Whatsapp服务器上（以加密格式），直到它们可以传送到收件人的手机。消息只会长期存储在您的手机上，而不是任何服务器上。
如果您使用Whatsapp 桌面(Whatsapp desktop)应用程序，它仍然需要您在手机上安装Whatsapp，但您的计算机将与您的手机同步以发送和接收消息。
信号
Signal 曾经是Edward Snowden 说(Edward
Snowden said)他每天都在使用的应用程序，因为它是与使用该应用程序的任何人交流的最安全和最值得信赖的方法之一。
Signal由非营利组织 Open Whisper Systems 开发(Systems)。这是一款开源应用程序，这意味着您可以确信没有隐藏的后门代码旨在监视您的通信。
与大多数其他加密应用程序一样，Signal仅允许您与安装了(Signal)Signal的其他用户通信。端到端加密直接从一部手机传输到另一部手机，并且消息在完全传输过程中被加密。没有消息存储在任何在线位置。
您只需点按并按住该消息即可立即删除该消息。请(Just)记住，这些消息也存在于其他用户的手机上，因此他们需要在结束后将其删除以完全破坏对话。
像Whatsapp一样，有一个桌面版本的Signal
可用，但它需要与您的手机链接才能工作。
下载信号(Download Signal)
金属丝
Wire允许您交换加密的语音或视频通话(voice or video calls)，以及 IM 聊天。与Whatsapp 或 Signal(Whatsapp or Signal)不同，它不需要电话号码(phone number)
即可工作。
这意味着当您安装桌面版(desktop version)时，您的
端点设备(endpoint device)将成为您的计算机，而不是您的手机。
与Signal一样，Wire是一个开源应用程序，因此您可以确保它没有安全漏洞或恶意代码。与此处列出的其他应用程序相比，您无需使用电话号码(phone number)（仅电子邮件）进行注册，这一事实为您提供了更大的隐私保护。
使用免费的匿名电子邮件帐户(email account)可让您发送真正匿名的消息。
但是，请记住，匿名性和端到端加密的成本很低。Wire 确实维护与消息相关的元数据，包括您与之聊天的联系人以及有关聊天的相关信息。
下载电线(Download Wire)
柳条
对于真正具有安全意识的人，您会感到震惊的是，这不是周围更流行的私人消息传递应用程序(messaging apps)之一。
除了其他应用程序提供(apps offer)的相同端到端加密之外
，Wickr更进了一步，允许您完全控制您发送的消息的存储位置和时长。
它可以让您在发送消息时为您提供 5 个红色按钮。这些按钮允许您：
- 设置(Set length)从收件人设备中自动删除消息之前的时间长度。
- 发送一张照片。
- 录制并发送语音消息。
- 附加文件。
所有传输，无论类型如何，都在您的设备上完全加密，并且仅在接收者的设备上解密。
使用Wickr，您可以确信黑客不仅无法在任何服务器上或在传输过程中访问您的消息，而且当他们试图通过入侵您的收件人的设备来访问消息时，他们也会受到阻挠。
Wickr可在多个平台和移动设备上使用。
下载柳条(Download Wickr)
Skype
您可能不希望在隐私消息应用程序集合中看到Skype 。然而，在看到隐私对这些应用程序的用户变得多么重要之后，微软决定为(Microsoft)Skype添加端到端加密
。
默认情况下未启用此最近添加到Skype的功能。(Skype isn)但是，您可以通过单击联系人列表上方的+Chat并选择(list and choosing)
New Private Conversation来发起私密的加密聊天。
启动新聊天后，所有来回发送的消息都会在您的设备上加密，并在收件人的设备上解密。
请记住，加密对话仅在从一台特定设备到另一台设备时处于活动状态。如果您从桌面移动到手机，则需要发起新的私人对话，并且收件人需要接受您的新邀请。
下载 Skype(Download Skype)
脸书信使
Facebook Messenger是您可能不希望出现在端到端加密列表中的另一个信使应用程序。但即使是
Facebook也加入了加密游戏(encryption game)，将这一重要的隐私和安全功能添加到其旗舰消息服务(flagship messenger service)中。
要在 iOS 上发送秘密消息：
- 点击主页(Home)，然后点击编辑图标(edit icon)开始新消息。
- 点击右上角的秘密(Secret)
。
- 选择邮件收件人。
- 如果您想让消息在设定的时间后消失，请点击文本框中的(text box)计时器(timer)
图标。
要在Android(Android)上发送秘密消息：
- 点击主页(home)
选项卡，然后与收件人启动新的Messenger 对话。(Messenger conversation)
- 点击右上角的信息图标(information
icon)。
- 点击进入秘密对话(Go to
Secret Conversation)。
- 点击计时器(timer)
图标，让消息在设定(set amount)的时间后消失。
您无法在网络上使用Facebook Messenger发送秘密消息。(Facebook Messenger)它仅适用于iOS 或 Android App(iOS or Android App)。
启用端到端加密后，您可以确信没有人能够拦截您的对话，并且通过在设定的时间(set time)后销毁消息，您的设备上不会存储任何内容供黑客阅读。
唯一的问题是，当收件人向您发送消息时，他们还需要记住设置计时器，以便对话结束后对话的两端都将被破坏。
使用加密聊天应用程序
想要使用具有端到端加密功能(encryption capability)的私人聊天应用程序是否偏执？
在当今世界，黑客行为盛行，外国甚至有兴趣监视普通公民，任何人都不能过于小心。
使用(Use one)上面的信使应用程序(messenger apps)之一并保护您的对话。当涉及到您的个人隐私时，您永远不会太安全。
Encrypted Chat Applications You Can Use to Chat Privately
With numerous news reports released every yеar abоut
computers and mobilе phones getting hacked, the demand fоr safe and secure ways
to have private conversations continues to increase.
Unfortunately, any chat conversation that gets stored on a
server anywhere on the internet, encrypted or not, is susceptible to hacking. Therefore,
the gold standard in chat privacy is end-to-end encryption.
In this article you’ll learn how end-to-end encryption
works, and the top 6 chat applications that offer it.
What Is End-to-End Encryption?
They key (pun intended) to properly encrypted digital
communications is the creation of both a public and a private key.
A “key” is a special code that can unlock an encrypted
transmission of information. An end-to-end encryption scenario works as
follows:
- The recipient and sender application both have
private and a public keys. The user’s private key is securely stored on the
user’s device. The public key is stored on the server that transmits the
messages.
- When the sender sends a message to the
recipient, the message can only be opened by the recipient using the private
key stored on only their device, and the public key known only by the device
and the server.
- When the recipient receives the message, the
application uses the public key and the private key to open that message and
decrypt it.
- This process continues back and forth as the
sender and recipient exchange messages.
Since the encryption takes place on one end, and is only
decrypted on the other end, this is known as end-to-end encryption.
Messages in this scenario are never stored in an unencrypted
state on any servers on the internet.
Years ago, there were only a few apps that offered
end-to-end chat encryption, but today most major chat platforms offer either
fully encrypted communications, or a way to “turn on” end-to-end encryption if
it’s desired.
Whatsapp
When it comes to private conversations, teenagers have made Whatsapp
a household name. Because of this reputation, Whatsapp was one of the first
messaging platforms to incorporate end-to-end encryption in every message sent
using the service.
Today, Whatsapp boasts over 900 million users, all sending
messages as privately as possible over the internet. It’s available for every
major phone in the mobile market, as well as for Windows and MacOS.
Encryption with Whatsapp takes place between one mobile
device to another. Messages are only stored on Whatsapp servers (in an
encrypted format) until they can be delivered to the recipient’s phone.
Messages are only stored over the long term on your phone, not on any servers.
If you use the Whatsapp desktop app, it still requires you
to have Whatsapp installed on your phone, but your computer will sync with your
phone to send and receive messages.
Signal
Signal was once the app Edward
Snowden said that he used every day, since it’s one of the most
secure and trusted methods of communicating with anyone who also uses the app.
Signal was developed by the non-profit organization Open
Whisper Systems. It’s an open-source app, meaning you can be confident there’s
no hidden, back-door code intended to spy on your communications.
Like most other encrypted apps, Signal lets you communicate
only with other users who have Signal installed. The end-to-end encryption
works directly from one phone to another, and messages are encrypted in full
transit. No messages are stored anywhere online.
You can instantly delete messages by simply tapping and
holding that message. Just remember that the messages also exist on the other
user’s phone, so they’ll need to delete on their end to fully destroy the
conversation once it’s finished.
Like Whatsapp, there is a desktop version of Signal
available, but it needs to be linked with your phone to work.
Download Signal
Wire
Wire lets you exchange encrypted voice or video calls, as
well as IM chats. Unlike Whatsapp or Signal, it doesn’t require a phone number
to work.
This means when you install the desktop version, your
endpoint device becomes your computer rather than your phone.
Like Signal, Wire is an open-source app, so you can be sure
it’s free of security gaps or malicious code. The fact that you don’t need to
register with your phone number (only an email) offers you even greater privacy
than other apps listed here.
Using a free, anonymous email account lets you send truly
anonymous messages.
However, keep in mind that with that anonymity and
end-to-end encryption comes a small cost. Wire does maintain metadata related
to the messages, including which contacts you chatted with and related
information about the chats.
Download Wire
Wickr
For the truly security-minded, you’ll be shocked that this
isn’t one of the more popular private messaging apps around.
In addition to the same end-to-end encryption that other
apps offer, Wickr goes a step further and allows you to maintain full control
over where the messages you send are stored and for how long.
It lets you do this by giving you 5 red buttons when you
send messages. These buttons allow you to:
- Set length of time before the message is
automatically erased from the recipient’s device.
- Send a photo.
- Record and send a voice message.
- Attach files.
All transmissions, regardless of type, are fully encrypted
on your device, and are only decrypted at the recipient’s device.
Using Wickr, you can be confident that not only will hackers
not be able to access your messages on any servers or during transmission, but
they’ll also be thwarted when they try to access the messages by hacking into
your recipient’s device.
Wickr is available on multiple platforms and mobile devices.
Download Wickr
Skype
You may not expect to see Skype listed in a collection of privacy
messaging apps. However, Microsoft decided to add end-to-end encryption to
Skype after seeing how important privacy was becoming to users of these apps.
This recent addition to Skype isn’t enabled by default.
However, you can initiate a private, encrypted chat by clicking on +Chat above your contact list and choosing
New Private Conversation.
Once the new chat is launched, all messages sent back and
forth are encrypted on your device and decrypted on the recipient’s device.
Keep in mind that the encrypted conversation is only active
from one specific device to another. If you move from your desktop to your
phone, you’ll need to initiate a new private conversation and the recipient
will need to accept your new invitation.
Download Skype
Facebook Messenger
Another messenger app you may not expect to show up on a
list of those with end-to-end encryption is Facebook Messenger. But even
Facebook has gotten into the encryption game by adding this important privacy
and security feature into its flagship messenger service.
To send a secret message on iOS:
- Tap Home,
and then the edit icon to start a new message.
- Tap Secret
in the upper right.
- Choose the message recipient.
- Tap the timer
icon in the text box if you want to make the message disappear after a set
time.
To send a secret message on Android:
- Tap the home
tab, and then launch a new Messenger conversation with the recipient.
- Tap the information
icon in the top right.
- Tap Go to
Secret Conversation.
- Tap the timer
icon to make the message disappear after a set amount of time.
You can’t send secret messages using Facebook Messenger on
the web. It’s only available for the iOS or Android App.
With end-to-end encryption enabled, you can be confident no
one will be able to intercept your conversation, and by destroying the messages
after a set time, there won’t be anything stored on your device for a hacker to
read.
The only catch is that when the recipient sends you a
message, they need to remember to set the timer as well so that both ends of
the conversation will be destroyed once the conversation is done.
Using Encrypted Chat Applications
Is it paranoid to want to use private chat applications that
have end-to-end encryption capability?
In today’s world, where hacking is prevalent and where
foreign countries are even interested in spying on regular citizens, one can
never be too careful.
Use one of the messenger apps above and secure your
conversations. You can never be too safe when it comes to your personal
privacy.
