Briar is a messaging app designed to be used by groups of people to allow for secure and censorship resistant communications.
This technically isn’t self hosted in the strictest sense but I think it is still relevant.
Briar is a messaging app designed to be used by groups of people to allow for secure and censorship resistant communications.
This technically isn’t self hosted in the strictest sense but I think it is still relevant.
Not at all. You’re effectively using a messenger that can only receive messages when your phone has an internet connection because briar doesn’t have servers. Also the connections are made through the Tor network, which hides metadata
Briar does not require an internet connection. It can send messages over Bluetooth and WiFi.
To be fair, that’s true for most messengers, even ones that do have servers.
Messages are only sent when both online though, thet’s the bigger difference (unless using Briar Mailbox). Also it can send over wifi and bluetooth without internet connection i.e. no other devices involved.
That’s an entirely different thing, yes. 😄
I’ve always wondered what the utility is in sending messages over Bluetooth. Exchanging data secretly and securely in person, I guess?
I’ve used it to message someone while on a flight.
Anytime you have bad/no cellular reception. Think being at a large event where the cell network is saturated, or in a rural area with no cell service.
Right, but you have to be so close to each other for Bluetooth to work, so it seems very limited in utility. But of course, data exchange in person would be one thing.
Bluetooth has a pretty significant range, especially outdoors. So you might be watching something on the stage while a friend or family member is 300 feet away at a concession stand.
No one else then the parties messaging can see that the communication even occurs.
Right, but you have to be so close to each other for Bluetooth to work.
It transfers across other peers; you don’t have to have a direct connection to the recipient, just an eventual connection to them.