Surespot
| Surespot | |
|---|---|
| Basic data
|
|
| developer | 2fours |
| Publishing year | 2012 |
| Current version | 78 ( Android ) December 31, 2018 21 ( iOS ) |
| operating system | Android , iOS |
| category | Instant messaging |
| License | GPLv3 |
| German speaking | Yes |
| surespot.me | |
Surespot (proper spelling sure spot ) is an instant messaging - service for smartphones and tablets with the operating systems Android and iOS . Text messages, emojis and pictures can be sent. The range of functions can also be expanded to include the option of sending 10-second audio messages via an in-app purchase. Each of these messages is encrypted end-to-end . Both the clients and the server are open source . In the discussion about the acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook surespot was often called as a safe alternative. The app had more than 500,000 downloads in the Google Play Store by the end of November 2018.
history
With an Android client and the server, Cherie Berdovich (CEO) and Adam Patacchiola (CTO) from the company "2fours" founded Surespot in 2013. An iOS client followed in 2014. The offices are in Boulder , Colorado . The company is financed through donations ( Bitcoins , Flattr , PayPal ) and in-app purchases; 2012, the company received off-exchange equity in the amount of 10,000 US dollars . A portion of the donation goes to the Electronic Frontier Foundation .
technology
In contrast to other popular messengers such as WhatsApp or Threema , Surespot does not offer the option to synchronize the address book. Instead, a participant is added to the contact list via a user name. But it is possible to have several identities on one device. Unwanted contacts can be blocked. Since the keys and user data are on the device and not on the server, they have to be saved locally (Android) or via Google Drive (iOS / Android) in order to be able to transfer them to another device. Up to 1000 encrypted messages per conversation are stored on the server.
Surespot uses 256-bit AES - GCM encryption with keys created with 521-bit ECDH . Using a public key procedure, the participants in a chat agree on a symmetrical key that is used to encrypt and decrypt messages. No group chat is currently possible, but it is being planned. The public keys are distributed via the server operated by 2fours and cannot be checked independently (for example via a QR code as with Threema). Messages that have already been sent can be deleted later on the recipient device. The libraries Spongy Castle for Android, Cryptopp for iOS and node.bcrypt.js and dcrypt for the server are used for the cryptographic part .
The server is based on Node.js , Redis and, more recently, Apache Cassandra .
Surespot is translated into numerous languages by volunteers, including a. in German, Spanish, Turkish and Italian.
See also
Web links
- Official website (English)
- 2fours on GitHub
Individual evidence
- ↑ Installation page for Android on Google Play , accessed January 2, 2019.
- ↑ Preview page for iOS in the App Store (iOS) , accessed on December 3, 2018 (partly in English).
- ↑ Away from WhatsApp - but where to? - Zeit Online , February 20, 2014, last accessed on March 15, 2014.
- ↑ Messenger services: These are secure WhatsApp alternatives , Spiegel Online , February 20, 2014, last accessed on March 15, 2014.
- ↑ Short tests of encrypted WhatsApp alternatives: Threema, ChatSecure, Surespot, Telegram, SafeSlinger , Spreeblick , February 21, 2014, last accessed on March 15, 2014.
- ↑ Contribute , supported on their website, last accessed March 15, 2014.
- ↑ How it works , explanations on the Surepot website, last accessed on March 15, 2014.
- ^ GitHub Issue on Group Messaging , last accessed March 15, 2014.
- ^ Surespot third-party libraries for Android on GitHub, last accessed March 15, 2014.
- ↑ Third-party libraries from Surespot for iOS on GitHub, last accessed March 15, 2014.
- ↑ a b Third-party libraries of the Surespot web server ( Memento from August 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (English).
- ^ Translation Activity. In: transifex.com. Retrieved December 3, 2018 .