Off-the-record messaging: Difference between revisions

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'''Off-the-record messaging''' or '''OTR''' is a system for providing [[cryptography|encryption]] for [[Instant messaging]] (Internet chat) applications such as [[MSN]] and [[QQ]].
'''Off-the-record messaging''' or '''OTR''' is a system for providing [[cryptography|encryption for [[Instant messaging (Internet chat) applications such as [[MSN and [[QQ.


OTR includes a mechanism for [[information security#source authentication|source authentication]] and [[information security#integrity|data integrity protection]]; during a conversation, both players are assured that the other party is who they think it is and that the messages are received unaltered. However, it does not use [[digital signature]]s verifiable by a third party. After a conversation, anyone can forge messages after a conversation to make them look like they came from you, but no-one can prove a recorded message was actually sent by you. The system also provides [[perfect forward secrecy]]; if you lose control of your private keys, no previous conversation is compromised.
OTR includes a mechanism for [[information security#source authentication|source authentication and [[information security#integrity|data integrity protection; during a conversation, both players are assured that the other party is who they think it is and that the messages are received unaltered. However, it does not use [[digital signatures verifiable by a third party. After a conversation, anyone can forge messages after a conversation to make them look like they came from you, but no-one can prove a recorded message was actually sent by you. The system also provides [[perfect forward secrecy; if you lose control of your private keys, no previous conversation is compromised.


It is an [[open source]] application, distributed both as a library for developers and as a pre-built plugin for the multi-protocol instant messaging client [[Pidgin chat client|Pidgin]]. There is a [http://www.cypherpunks.ca/otr/ web site] with downloads and extensive documentation.
It is an [[open source application, distributed both as a library for developers and as a pre-built plugin for the multi-protocol instant messaging client [[Pidgin chat client|Pidgin. There is a [http://www.cypherpunks.ca/otr/ web site] with downloads and extensive documentation.

Revision as of 07:34, 18 March 2024

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Off-the-record messaging or OTR is a system for providing [[cryptography|encryption for [[Instant messaging (Internet chat) applications such as [[MSN and [[QQ.

OTR includes a mechanism for [[information security#source authentication|source authentication and [[information security#integrity|data integrity protection; during a conversation, both players are assured that the other party is who they think it is and that the messages are received unaltered. However, it does not use [[digital signatures verifiable by a third party. After a conversation, anyone can forge messages after a conversation to make them look like they came from you, but no-one can prove a recorded message was actually sent by you. The system also provides [[perfect forward secrecy; if you lose control of your private keys, no previous conversation is compromised.

It is an [[open source application, distributed both as a library for developers and as a pre-built plugin for the multi-protocol instant messaging client [[Pidgin chat client|Pidgin. There is a web site with downloads and extensive documentation.

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