Do P2P Messaging apps that don't require the internet exist?

[idkwhatusernametoputherelolol@lemmy.dbzer0.com]

Briar (Android Only) - Uses Bluetooth, Wifi, or Internet via Tor to communicate. You can theretically create a large mesh group. Think of protests where the government shuts down the internet.

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Also: You can send encrypted text over SMS using Secure Space Encryptor (SSE) (known as Paranoia Text Encryption on iOS). It's an Open Source app that can encrypt text.

1. Type text
2. Copy the Ciphertext
3. Send and tell the recipient to use SSE fo decrypt.

You both have to share a password/passphrase over a secure channel, then use that to encrypt and decrypt.

Or PGP (there are mobile apps), but they aren't quantum resistant. If someone intercept and stores them, it could be decrypted later. So I recomment Symmetric Encryption like AES 256 (so use SSE for better security, since they use AES 256)

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You can also encrypt a radio:

Rattlegram is an app on iOS/Android that alllows converting text to audio and play it over your phone’s speaker.

As mentioned before, SSE.

1. Use SSE to encrypt text
2. Copy-Paste the Ciphertext to Rattlegram
3. Sent it over the radio
4. On the other end, use Raddlegram to turn the audio back to the ciphertext
5. Use SSE to decrypt.

Voila! Off-Grid Encrypted communications.

Warning: Encryption over radio is illegal in many countries (but fuck the law lol, who cares)

There's also Meshtastic, but it has much shorter range, but, in the USA at least, they aren't "Ham Radio" so they (supposedly) can be encrypted legally.

[mrpalmer16@lemmy.ml]

This one works, if you don't mind a little diy and texting only: https://circuitmess.com/products/chatter-lora-communication-device

[suckmyspez@lemmy.world]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FireChat

[elperronegro@lemmy.world]

Check out Reticulum Network Stack using LORA radio. Works really well.

http://reticulum.network/

[root@lemmy.world]

Meshtastic can be encrypted and is LoRa based. Can easily hit nodes dozens of miles away with a good line of sight. It also relays messages across nodes to reach even further distances.

[foremanguy92_@lemmy.ml]

If you don't want to use internet the only ways are to use radio or deploy your own network infrastructure (optic fiber or cell tower), so there's no really any messaging app that can be used without internet. Briar can use Bluetooth but with a limited range, needing an actual dense mesh network.

[bad_news@lemmy.billiam.net]

Yes, this is totally what I was thinking of!

[monkdervierte@lemmy.ml]

Briar has a mesh mode.

[ferk@lemmy.ml]

Yes, it's possible. To be honest, I find it very sad that we have grown so dependent on ISP and big telecom companies to have a working network.

In theory, you could have an infrastructure in your neighborhood and be able to play Quake with your neighbors without making use of the phone line at all, and with a very efficient connection too! you'd just need cabling connecting the apartments/houses. It's a pity that's not a standard thing when designing residences.

You can technically do it with Wifi and mesh networking though... there are projects like B.A.T.M.A.N, see https://www.open-mesh.org/

[0x0@programming.dev]

I think SimpleX is mesh?

[earflap@reddthat.com]

Depending on how far you're willing to push the definition of "messaging" you could look into getting your ham radio license.

[yogthos@lemmy.ml]

Surprised nobody mentioned scuttlebutt yet https://scuttlebutt.nz/

[vubdapple@real.lemmy.fan]

SSB can use the internet to share encrypted messages via hubs/servers, but it also can share the same messages peer to peer in a mesh sort of setup without the internet using a 'gossip' protocol within a local network. It was invented by a sailor who was regularly away from WiFi due to being at sea.

[jagged_circle@feddit.nl]

This was a common thing that was developed for the international protests after Arab Spring, which would frequently have their Internet shut down as a State tactic to prevent communication amongst protestors.

Mesh net chat apps like FireChat were born in response

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FireChat

[earflap@reddthat.com]

Woah Briar is really cool. I think this is like what I want Signal to be.

[theroff@aussie.zone]

yggmail is a fairly obscure and experimental take on email on a mesh network:
https://github.com/neilalexander/yggmail

[ju135@lemmings.world]

Yeah to be honest I don't even know how telegram became so popular in the "privacy-oriented world"

[ju135@lemmings.world]

It's the thing on iPhones right?

[ju135@lemmings.world]

I found Berty yesterday just after making this post. But as a neophyte in cryptography and everything, how am I supposed to know which one is better for my privacy ? (e.g. between Briar and Berty) Because right now the only thing that I have is what the apps are "telling" me so... Yeah I don't know how to chose.

[ju135@lemmings.world]

pictochat FTW