stashcat
| stashcat | |
|---|---|
| Basic data
|
|
| developer | heinekingmedia GmbH |
| Publishing year | 2016 |
| Current version | 3.8.0 ( Android ) April 8, 2020 3.8.0 ( iOS ) |
| operating system | Android , iOS , Windows , macOS , BlackBerry, WebClient |
| category | Instant messaging |
| License | proprietary |
| German speaking | Yes |
| stashcat.com | |
stashcat is an instant messenger from heinekingmedia GmbH from Hanover , which has been part of the Madsack media group since 2014 . The software runs on smartphones , tablets and PCs and can be used via an Android or iOS app (from September 10th) as well as in the browser as a web client and as a desktop client on Windows and macOS. The target group are authorities with security tasks ( BOS ), the military and companies.
Stashcat was released in April 2016 and combines the functions of WhatsApp and Google Drive / Dropbox in the front end to create a tap- proof alternative. The backend is part of the software as a server infrastructure and runs on its own cloud storage on German servers or on its own company servers with virtualized Linux servers.
Functions
Stashcat allows text messages, pictures, videos, contacts and other files to be exchanged between two or more devices. The messages are sent and received via the Internet ( WLAN or cellular network) and uses the Electron framework . It has a closed contact database with an LDAP interface, end-to-end encryption (RSA 4096 Bit, AES 256), georeferencing , ChatBot and a file storage for each user. The source code is not open source.
Stashcat can also be used within mobile device management systems such as MobileIron, Airwatch and Blackberry.
Customer solutions
Stashcat is easily adapted for each customer and sold under their own name.
NIMes (Lower Saxony Messenger)
As of October 2017, NIMes will be used by the Lower Saxony police for around 23,500 employees and officials in Lower Saxony as a secure messenger for internal communication within the authorities. In 2015, the police in Lower Saxony tested the SIMSme messenger from Deutsche Post.
HePolChat (Hessian Police)
HePolChat has been used by the Hessen police as a messenger for sending text messages, images, video and sound since 2018 and is distributed to all offices across the country.
School.Cloud
The school communication solution schul.cloud is also based on Stashcat.
The schul.cloud is a messenger with file storage for teachers, students and parents and the basic version is free for schools and educational institutions. Administrative, technical (folder synchronization like DropBox) and didactic extensions (homework management, calendar, surveys) are available for sale under the name schul.cloud pro . According to the provider, over 6,000 schools and 500,000 users use the product.
Technical implementation
There is a web-based user interface, desktop applications for Windows and macOS , and native apps for Android and iOS . The schul.cloud uses end-to-end encryption .
history
The product was presented for the first time at didacta 2017, and then pilot operation began. The nationwide rollout followed a year later. As part of didacta 2019, the school management solution KIKS based on schul.cloud was presented by the city of Cologne. A deletion is pending against the registration of the word mark.
Bundeswehr messenger
In November 2019, the Federal Minister of Defense, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, was introduced to the Bundeswehr messenger (BwChat) during her inaugural visit to the Cyber Innovation Hub of the Bundeswehr. In the future, however, the Bundeswehr plans to switch to the open source solution Matrix .
airbus
In February 2017, there was a cooperation with the Secure Land Communications (SLC) division of the Airbus group. Stashcat was also installed on the Tactilon Dabat, a combined smartphone and TETRA radio, using the SmarTWISP app.
THW Messenger
The German Technical Relief Organization decided in July 2020 to introduce stashcat as a messenger service for internal communication for all volunteer and full-time helpers. The service can be used both to support operational communication and for communication in everyday life at the THW. The introduction of a messenger service for the entire THW was a particular wish of THW President Gerd Friedsam .
Weak points
In July 2017, CIPHRON GmbH, a consulting company for information security from Hanover, found weaknesses in the cryptographic and security-related functions of the instant messenger StashCat in Android version 1.5.18 and 1.7.5 and in desktop client version 0.0.86 and in a half-day audit through reverse engineering . The vulnerabilities found were eliminated by the manufacturer.
Stashcat does not have screen sharing . A local export of all data, chat histories and shared content from the personal memory is possible.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Nina May: The safe alternative to Whatsapp. In: HAZ . April 8, 2016 .
- ↑ An app especially for the police. In: HAZ. 29th August 2017 .
- ↑ Police of Lower Saxony relies on Messenger from Deutsche Post - postbranche.de. In: Deutsche Post DHL. August 19, 2015 (German).
- ↑ Hessian police introduce messenger service and tasers - authorities Spiegel ( Memento from July 5, 2018 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Hesse introduces tasers to the police | Hessian Ministry of the Interior and for Sport. July 4, 2018 : "The new messenger service was presented for the first time. The chat of the Hessian police (HePolChat) will be available to all offices throughout the country this year ... 2,800 mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) have already been given to the police "
- ↑ schul.cloud data protection. Retrieved February 8, 2019 .
- ↑ APP MACHT SCHULE - film from RTL WEST. Retrieved August 21, 2019 .
- ↑ Johanna Steele: Bundeswehr works with start-ups. In: Ostsee Zeitung. Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack GmbH & Co. KG, November 28, 2019 .
- ↑ heinekingmedia.de
- ↑ Detlef Borchers: Berlin "air holes": 16,000 cell phones for the police? In: heise online. March 11, 2017 .
- ↑ Information letter "Messenger service August 2020" from THW
- ↑ Advisory for StashCat. In: CIPHRON.de. July 31, 2017 .