Facebook’s private chat, Messenger, is one of the most widely used platforms across the globe to communicate with other people. If you want to encrypt your conversations with the other person you will find that the procedure is simpler than expected!
You often use Facebook chat to communicate with your friends, but would you like to hide the content from prying eyes? You’ve come to the right place to figure out how to do it! I start by saying that the solution is an extension for the most popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Opera.
With this method you will be able to encrypt the conversations you prefer so that only you and the other party will be able to read the original Facebook chat text.
Warning: Recently Facebook has developed a technology to encrypt conversations initiated via the official Messenger application. Today this solution is available for iOS and Android smartphones.
Encrypt conversations in the Facebook chat
The extension I was talking about before is called Cryptocat, but unfortunately it is no longer available on the App Store.
For this reason I updated the article with the best alternatives to Cryptocat and selected some platforms for chatting in total anonymity.
Wire
Wire is an official collaboration platform. It allows teams of people or even collaborators of different projects that work together to keep in touch with each other in a simple and effective way.
Wire solves any security and anonymity issues by providing end-to-end encryption. It has many different and useful features like a chat, file sharing, voice calls and video services.
Jitsi
Jitsi is one of the best platforms offering video conferencing solutions. You can set up secure and secure video conferences through a series of open source projects.
Jitsi Videobridge and Jitsi Meet form the core of Jitsi thanks to videoconference services, while there are other projects that provide audio, recording and simulcast services. Completely free.
Jami
Jami is a free and universally accessible communication platform that preserves the privacy and freedom of the user. It is designed primarily for industrial or professional purposes, but can also be used by the general public.
It is available for various devices and provides services such as text messages, audio calls, video conferences, etc.
Chat Secure
Chat Secure is a free and open source messaging app. What makes it different is that it is equipped with OMEMO Encryption and OTR Encryption on XMPP which makes it interoperable with other clients using OMEMO or OTR and XMPP. Use the best cryptographic libraries to keep your conversations private.
Threema
Threema is a messaging service that allows you to remain totally anonymous. It is not necessary to provide your phone number or e-mail address, but each Threema user is given a randomly generated ID.
The system protects privacy because it does not collect the data in its possession. This aspect makes it very safe for its users and protects anonymity.
Wickr
Basic Wickr is a corporate communication platform. It has a couple of features that make it easy to control such as device-device encryption, session and message expiration. Wickr has a whole range of global business providers that helps them integrate better with existing IT infrastructures and workflows.
Off-The-Record
Off-the-record or OTR is an instant messaging service that allows you to start private and protected conversations. The system provides encryption to ensure that your messages are not read by anyone other than the intended recipient.
It also provides authentication to ensure that the recipient is who they are meant to be and also does not allow digital signatures to be controlled by third parties.
Bitchat
Bitchat is a messaging service provided by Technitium. It provides a secure peer-to-peer interface that works similar to a bit-torrent site, which means no servers are involved.
Your conversations will be secure thanks to an encryption system. Only the email address is required to create your digital certificate. Metadata will not be generated and therefore stored.
OTR
OTR is an instant messaging service that allows you to start private and protected conversations. The system is equipped with the most secure cryptographic protocols to ensure that messages are read only by the intended recipient.
It also provides authentication to the recipient and leaves no digital signatures that can be controlled by third parties.
Peerio
Peerio is a communication platform to help team members communicate better with each other safely. Organize all the work group data thanks to a convenient chat or file management in a single space, so it’s easy to find them.
Provides security through end-to-end encryption. The interface is very minimal and user friendly.
If you need to obscure the conversations or if you are particularly suspicious that someone could “mind your own business”, I hope you have found one or more solutions to your problem.