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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: jdcarpe on Fri, 23 August 2013, 08:38:58

Title: BitMessage
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 23 August 2013, 08:38:58
Anyone here use BitMessage?

Q: What is BitMessage?
A: Bitmessage is a P2P communications protocol used to send encrypted messages to another person or to many subscribers. It is decentralized and trustless, meaning that you need-not inherently trust any entities like root certificate authorities. It uses strong authentication which means that the sender of a message cannot be spoofed, and it aims to hide "non-content" data, like the sender and receiver of messages, from passive eavesdroppers like those running warrantless wiretapping programs. If Bitmessage is completely new to you, you may wish to start by reading the whitepaper (https://bitmessage.org/bitmessage.pdf). [Taken from https://bitmessage.org/wiki/Main_Page]

BitMessage works a lot like Bitcoin, except that you aren't mining anything. All connections are peer-to-peer (P2P) and there is no central server that must relay your messages. It is encrypted by default. It also discourages spam, since your machine must complete a proof-of-work block for every message you send or relay. While your machine is on and running the BitMessage software, your client becomes a node in a stream. Everything is decentralized, so redundancy is inherent.

Setting up BitMessage on Windows: tutorial (http://cryptojunky.com/blog/2013/03/09/setting-up-and-using-bitmessage-an-encrypted-communications-platform-based-on-bitcoin/)

My BitMessage address: BM-2DBW5S8B9ee5Kdjeu9x32fmvaycjY3ESfX

Send me a message, I'll send you one back!
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 23 August 2013, 10:22:53
jdcarpe: BM-2DBW5S8B9ee5Kdjeu9x32fmvaycjY3ESfX
Binge: BM-2D7BBV1njsgufyojXnP4jjEdaYNDYVFfJk
[username]: [BitMessage address]
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: vun on Fri, 23 August 2013, 10:29:50
Looks interesting, although I don't know what I'd do with it so I'll just keep an eye on this thread for now, might decide to set it up sometime later.
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 23 August 2013, 10:43:13
Looks interesting, although I don't know what I'd do with it so I'll just keep an eye on this thread for now, might decide to set it up sometime later.

Well, if you can get people to use it to exchange messages instead of email, it can be your email replacement. With the recent revelations into what the NSA is collecting from services based here in the US, such as Gmail, etc., I think we will see more decentralized messaging such as this.
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 23 August 2013, 10:44:20
Why not just use encrypted email then?
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: lcs on Fri, 23 August 2013, 10:46:19
I am sending one to you, jd. It is still trying to get your pub key :P
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 23 August 2013, 10:50:04
Why not just use encrypted email then?

Because people won't do it. It's too much trouble for them to setup keys in GnuPG, use Thunderbird + Enigmail, etc. Also, this hides the sender and receiver information, as well, since there is no header sent in the clear.
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: vun on Fri, 23 August 2013, 10:50:06
Looks interesting, although I don't know what I'd do with it so I'll just keep an eye on this thread for now, might decide to set it up sometime later.

Well, if you can get people to use it to exchange messages instead of email, it can be your email replacement. With the recent revelations into what the NSA is collecting from services based here in the US, such as Gmail, etc., I think we will see more decentralized messaging such as this.

That's where I'm not seeing the immediate benefit for me, it's probably over a year since I used e-mail to talk to someone, after that pretty much all the e-mails I've sent have been to various customer supports and whatnot.
Not really expecting them to switch to this anytime soon. Most of my online conversation is done via skype or something.
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 23 August 2013, 13:01:58
Why not just use encrypted email then?

Because people won't do it. It's too much trouble for them to setup keys in GnuPG, use Thunderbird + Enigmail, etc. Also, this hides the sender and receiver information, as well, since there is no header sent in the clear.

My words are so compelling that even without address information, they'd immediately know who sent it

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/047.gif)
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: Sifo on Fri, 23 August 2013, 13:04:06
Why not just use encrypted email then?

Because people won't do it. It's too much trouble for them to setup keys in GnuPG, use Thunderbird + Enigmail, etc. Also, this hides the sender and receiver information, as well, since there is no header sent in the clear.

My words are so compelling that even without address information, they'd immediately know who sent it

Show Image
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/047.gif)


Sounds about right.
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 23 August 2013, 13:04:52
Why not just use encrypted email then?

Because people won't do it. It's too much trouble for them to setup keys in GnuPG, use Thunderbird + Enigmail, etc. Also, this hides the sender and receiver information, as well, since there is no header sent in the clear.

My words are so compelling that even without address information, they'd immediately know who sent it

Show Image
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/047.gif)


Sounds about right.

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/th_057_.gif)
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 23 August 2013, 13:08:09
Why not just use encrypted email then?

Because people won't do it. It's too much trouble for them to setup keys in GnuPG, use Thunderbird + Enigmail, etc. Also, this hides the sender and receiver information, as well, since there is no header sent in the clear.

My words are so compelling that even without address information, they'd immediately know who sent it

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/047.gif) (http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/047.gif)

Your on the watchlist aren't you?
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 23 August 2013, 13:20:55
Looks interesting, although I don't know what I'd do with it so I'll just keep an eye on this thread for now, might decide to set it up sometime later.

This is cool, but I wish to remain off the 'No-Fly List', LOL!
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 23 August 2013, 13:50:48
Why not just use encrypted email then?

Because people won't do it. It's too much trouble for them to setup keys in GnuPG, use Thunderbird + Enigmail, etc. Also, this hides the sender and receiver information, as well, since there is no header sent in the clear.

My words are so compelling that even without address information, they'd immediately know who sent it

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/047.gif) (http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/047.gif)

Your on the watchlist aren't you?

which one are you referring to, GH or NSA
 
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/th_059_.gif)
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: uzoc on Sat, 24 August 2013, 18:35:15
JDcarpe: Sent you a message, just wanted to know what the reply looks like... 
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: Binge on Mon, 26 August 2013, 08:45:04
I've hopped on board, here's my public GH address,

BM-2D7BBV1njsgufyojXnP4jjEdaYNDYVFfJk
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: uzoc on Mon, 26 August 2013, 10:16:23
If you give out your address here (or anywhere public/private), it starts becoming less secure...
It can be linked to your Geekhack ID and contact info, etc, etc.
Title: Re: BitMessage
Post by: Binge on Mon, 26 August 2013, 10:27:00
^ this does not make sense.