For those in the dark, FinFisher, also known as FinSpy, is surveillance software widely used by many government all over the world for spying on their citizens. The NSA and CIA probably use other software with similar capabilities. In general, it is very easy to capture voice data transmitted over 2G, 3G or 4G network, for the most part they are encrypted, but not sufficiently enough to be considered as safe.
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The up and coming 4G LTE is much better, The 4G LTE successor is the SNOW 3G stream cipher and the UEA2 confidentiality and UIA2 integrity algorithms. The problem arises on how these data are transmitted (central server) and where are they stored? This is where End-to-end encryption and Encrypted in transit makes a huge difference. Works great on Android 8.0 Oreo / Android 9.0 [ Popsicle, Pancakes or Pie ] smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy, Huawei Mate, Oppo, Vivo, XiaoMi, Nokia, and also Apple’s iOS iPhone.
“End-to-end Encryption” vs “Encrypted in Transit”
There are two types of encryption, Apple’s iMessage and Facetime are both End-to-end encryption (User to User), this means the data are stored at the endpoints (i.e. by users, not by servers) and Apple does not keep the data nor can they decrypt the data with a master key. Google’s Hangout on the other hand uses Encrypted in transit (User to Server to User) method, this means all data goes thru their central server and Google keeps a copy of the data, which is secure but with enough computing power, the data can be decrypted.
Only 5 apps made it to the list for military grade unhackable End-to-end encryption, data encrypted end-to-end is the only case where you can trust the service to protect your data. These apps are God sent for those in the opposition party in a country but can be badly abused by drug dealers, kidnappers, terrorists and more. Without further ado, here are 5 of the best anti-CIA, anti-NSA, and anti-FBI voice apps ( VoIP ) with military grade AES 256-bit end-to-end encryption.
1. Silent Phone
Silent Phone provides encrypted voice, video, and messaging brought to you by the world leaders in privacy, Silent Circle. Calls and messages between Silent Phone members are encrypted end-to-end protecting your business from criminals and competitors alike. Features:
- True Privacy. Trusted by businesses and governments around the world.
- Simple “zero–touch” deployment across your organization
- Secure conference calling with HD call clarity
- Burn functionality protects messaging with auto self-destruct
- Voice memos offer a modern replacement for traditional, unprotected voicemail
- Securely send pdf, docx, mov, mp4, png and jpg files.
- Silent World allows communication with non-members
2. Signal
Privacy is possible, Signal ( Open Whisper System) makes it easy. Using Signal, you can communicate instantly while avoiding SMS fees, create groups so that you can chat in real time with all your friends at once, and share media all with complete privacy. The server never has access to any of your communication and never stores any of your data.
- Be Yourself – Signal uses your existing phone number and address book. There are no separate logins, usernames, passwords, or PINs to manage or lose.
- Group Chat – Signal allows you to create encrypted groups so you can have private conversations with all your friends at once. Not only are the messages encrypted, but the Signal server never has access to any group metadata such as the membership list, group title, or group icon.
3. BBM
Blackberry BBM lets you chat and share with a speed, control and privacy you can’t get on other instant messenger apps. It’s the closest thing to being there in person. And with great new features, getting your message across is faster and easier than ever. Note: some features are not available for all devices.
- Invite additional BBM contacts to join a chat to make things more lively! Join at any time and it ends when everyone leaves – up to 250 BBM contacts in one chat!
- BBM Groups – Set up a permanent BBM Group with your close friends or co-workers – not only can you chat, but also share pictures in a group Album, assign tasks to group members and create calendar events for group members. Permanent BBM Groups can have up to 50 members.
- Broadcast messages – Get the word out in a flash by sending a broadcast message to multiple BBM contacts at one time.
4. Apple Facetime
According to Apple, your iMessages and FaceTime calls are your business, not ours. Your communications are protected by end-to-end encryption across all your devices when you use iMessage and FaceTime, and with iOS and watchOS, your iMessages are also encrypted on your device in such a way that they can’t be accessed without your passcode.
Apple has no way to decrypt iMessage and FaceTime data when it’s in transit between devices. So unlike other companies’ messaging services, Apple doesn’t scan your communications, and they wouldn’t be able to comply with a wiretap order even if they wanted to. While they do back up iMessage and SMS messages for your convenience using iCloud Backup, you can turn it off whenever you want. And they don’t store FaceTime calls on any servers.
5. WhatsApp
Privacy and security is in their DNA, which is why they have end-to-end encryption in the latest versions of their app. When end-to-end encrypted, your messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, and calls are secured from falling into the wrong hands. End-to-end encryption is available when you and the people you message are on the latest versions of WhatsApp.
WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures only you and the person you’re communicating with can read what is sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp. Your messages are secured with a lock, and only the recipient and you have the special key needed to unlock and read your message. For added protection, every message you send has a unique lock and key. All of this happens automatically: no need to turn on settings or set up special secret chats to secure your messages.
Great article! It’s an important subject that many more should be considering for their daily lives. It’s unfortunate that citizens even must consider such privacy measures to maintain a basic international human right. Have you heard of Wire app? (www.wire.com) We’re testing it for ourselves now. They appear to also be e2e. The performance is excellent for chat, but the voice & video is a bit buggy. I’m interested in your thoughts. Thanks.
Please Check ours Adeya App. Its Swiss Com Certified to 0.0000 % Secure. Made in Switzerland and 100% secure. We are offering desktop solutions this new year also. Write to us we will share the details.
In interested
Hi Vikrant, I know this was a while ago, but can you send me an invitation code so that I can use Adeya?
Thanks
BBMs security is questionable.
(I work at a competing product – Wire.com so biased.)
BBM is NOT Secure at all. I cannot share further information only remember BBM has Shared a lot of “all user data” to Governments.
Ever heard of Secureant? They own the patent rights to software voice encryption for wireless and land based communication devices. Tested by the US Army at the highest level and supported by the US Congress Appropriations Commitee. They have the ultimate power. Patent 9,674,163 is the powerful patent. They are filing more. This company is very stealth but is coming out now in the press. They began this whole thing about software voice encryption (with or without a server, etc.) in 2001……way before anyone else.
How effective is this in preventing potential unknown police Authority Taps from getting your conversations?
If they have access to your smartphone, then they have full access to the conversation. Other than that, there is no possible way for them to intercept your message over-the-air or via the messaging app’s server. The only evidence is in your smartphone and the recipient’s smartphones.
what about utopia ?
I strongly suggest that each and every one of these solutions, unless opensource, is owned or controlled directly by the U.S. Intelligence Community and is therefor designed with a back end that deciphers (by design) the communications and stores them, with a higher priority of analysis than any other system that you use (because the government knows that whoever is trying to use this kind of comms software is more likely to be doing something that may be illegal).
Thus, the only real way to achieve true end to end encryption is using air-gapped hardware. Remember, the FBI “hired someone else” (actually an internal arms length employee of Apple most likely) to crack the IPhones of the terrorists in California.
The way all this works is that the Gov. already has the back door to see and collect and analyze all Android and Apple operating systems. So whenever you enter all your passwords and encryption keys on your device, guess who is watching all that and recording it? Yes. It’s big brother. So these solutions are cute and might even offer some protection against citizens or some reporters from not eavesdropping, but you have to understand that the government OWN’s the back door into all of the platforms upon which this stuff runs. So don’t think you’re gonna keep them from listening. These things are just bate. The more you try to use 3rd party encryption, the bigger of a target you become with each installation of such software because each installation of anti-eavesdropping software sets off alarm bells to the government who is already monitoring the operating systems upon which you are installing the software.
Using the already existing stuff that everyone uses is already completely and automatically hacked, so that doesn’t set off as many alarms but don’t think for a second that you are protected.
I would suggest you are 100% correct. Just an aside (to the author of the article), WhatsApp is a Facebook product and we all know just how much Facefail values user privacy…
What’s app apparently caved in to pressure off the au gov to put in a back door into their software
All of these are lacking in one thing. CENTRAL SERVER. And the possibilities for Man In the Middle Attacks. There is only ONE that beats all of these. Crypviser, the first Blockchain Decentralized instant messenger.
MEGA Privacy?
MEGA by Kim Dotcom is good but it is more of a file sharing platform than a voice calling app. The voice calling feature is not free.
Voice and video from MEGAchat. Available for free since 2020.
* MEGA apps are free and provide group text/voice/video chats with full user-controlled end-to-end encryption.
* Chat history is available on any device where you are logged in.
* Client source code is all published, so no hidden back doors.
* You can easily share files from your cloud storage to a chat.
* Excellent sound and video quality.
btw Mega has nothing to do with Dotcom now. He sold his shares.
Thanks for sharing the amazing list of video calling apps for Android and iOS. These are really awesome Android and iOS video calling apps. Well, I would like to introduce an also HD Video calling App For Android & iOS.
plz check on google
(messenger name) for big brother
(messenger name) for law enforcement
plz stop using google
Black phone…….after spending $ 900 and wasting a lot time, Black Phone was easily hacked. All my phone calls were tap by hackers. A complete waste of money.
New system called Off-Grid been using it for a month what an awesome system comes on few devices Huawei p30 lite iPhone and blackberry’s I’m using the Huawei has 2 sides to the phone 1st password takes you to normal side then 2nd password takes you to the secure side you get secure end to end chat then you get 3,000mins for worldwide voip calls you can change your number your voice and the i.p also comes with offshore WhatsApp Signal and telegram
Yeah, because Huawei is known for not stealing trade secrets and is trustworthy. Forget any device made in China. That country has been known to install chips on motherboards for PC’s that are integrated to capture all the network data.
I read there’s Huawei brand technology in government ..or military submarines. I can’t remember which.
facetime is the best for its security. that’s why facetime is not releasing any windows app.
it would be better if there is an app that encrypt voice calls with a regular phones that both have the app installed, and the two phones don’t have internet.. even if the communication is not free, at least it is guaranteed it will be encrypted.. sometimes there is only 1G or 2G coverage..
Isnt that what happened to Blackberry back in the day, got notice of investigation and gave it all up.
I was told recently that Apple was also asked to hand over its customers personal information and they refused. Gates might be an evil crook, but apparently he ain’t no snitch.
I use Threema. not free, but its encryoted and vetter yet anonymous unlike signal or whatsapp