Decentralized messaging apps offer a better alternative to centralized apps in terms of privacy, security, crypto wallet integration, revenue platform for content creation, etc. all packaged under one.
Messaging apps offers real-time communications between two or more participants on the Internet.
Popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, and Facebook Messenger have more users than social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
However, can you say your private communication is completely confidential?
You might have come across stories detailing around the weakening of messaging apps in the name of law enforcement.
Almost every popular messaging platform relies on client to server communication.
Usually, a unique ID is given to a thread and then these are stored in a centralized database. These kinds of systems are prone to censorship or network blocking in the name of controlled policing, etc.
Spying on private conversation is something that concerns even the crypto community, something that won’t leak their secret data.
Maybe social media can see a turn towards the next level by adopting a more secured and privacy-based model.
If you are keen on protecting your privacy in the age of data privacy, dapps and Web3 might be your solution.
Blockchain-powered applications enables users to take charge of their own personal data.
Age Of Digital Policing
In this age of concern for privacy and security issues, the need for a secured and an end-to end encrypted messaging service is a necessity.
Governments and other agents take interest into peeping inside private communications and whereabouts on its citizens.
Taken in the name of national security, as owner yourself you are not entitled to your own privacy of communication.
Besides, there are other players such as cybercriminals and extortionists looking into opportunities to find loopholes to enter into private communications.
Within the crypto community, there are popular apps such as Telegram and Signal.
One might wonder why not use apps such as Telegram or Discord? Because although these apps are known to be encrypted and secured, they are still centralized., owned by single entities.
They have the power to tweak changes according to their feasibility all the while creating trust issues.
Besides, these platforms are not open source. Users need to trust apps such as Telegram in order to assure that the messages are safe are secured.
Providing phone numbers to Telegram app might prove to be a risky affair too for some too.
In contrast, Signal is seen as an upgrade on Telegram, having even received approval from the likes of privacy absolutist such as Edward Snowden
However, unlike Telegram, Signal is open source and all its messages are encrypted end-to-end by default. Through it does not boast of having many features.
In this digital age, securing one’s private communications with end-to-end encryption should not just be a right, not a privilege.
Decentralized Messaging Alternatives
Developed by Radical App, Dust is a messenger based on blockchain technology. The focus point of the app is on privacy and security. Most of its features are equipped in protecting your identity.
Other features include rewarding on good behavior such as issuing tokens (Global Messaging Tokens). The idea for the reward system is that it will cost more for those users who abuse the system.
Moreover, users can also reward each other. Users can reward each other for creating value by sharing useful stuff.
Features such as timely message deletion is another interesting aspects of the apps. You can self-destruct your messages with a time limit for up to 24 hours.
Besides following are these features that catches the eyes:
Screenshot notification
Deleting messaging even from the receiver’s phone
No-name policy in group chats
Dust is available on both Android and iOS platform.
Join the movement. #UseDust #AntiSocialNetwork pic.twitter.com/Jt8OEAhFHo — Dust App (@DustAppOfficial) April 3, 2019
Status is a peer-to-peer instant messenger with a crypto wallet and Web3 browser using the Ethereum platform.
How is status different from other IM apps you ask? Well its inclusion of an ERC-20 wallet and dapps, accessed through an in-app browser!!
The app comes with an Ethereum wallet that you can use to send and receive ERC-20 tokens while track transactions on the blockchain. Its in-app messages are end-to-end encrypted (Whisper Protocol).
Status app opens all its links inside its built-in browser in the privacy mode, meaning no one knows which site you have visited. Status has made its code open-source owing to its transparency policy.
Status app is available both on Android and iOS.
Sense Chat is an another interesting decentralized messenger app that uses the EOS blockchain.
Sense Chat app features of the follwing features:
multiple chat channels on any number of topics
peer to peer video chat over the blockchain
The app leverages its user’s EOS public keys to create secure, encrypted connections. You can tip content creators and even regular messages for their contributions to chat channels.
e-Chat is built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. The app comes with a multi-coin cryptocurrency wallet, processing Ethereum transactions.
e-chat features a section on content creation. You can tip your favorite content creators through e-Chat’s native ECHT token.
Receiving not just messages but even payments a P2P environment is one of the best features of the app.
Other features include ability to make:
voice calls to up to 10 people
HD video calls
text messages
The best part about e-chat is that bloggers could create an additional revenue for themselves. e-Chat is available both on Android and iOS platform.
Sylo is a decentralized messaging app featuring an integrated crypto wallet.
The app has a very strong focus on privacy using Sylo’s Decentralized Signalling “to establish encrypted P2P connections on demand.”
Moreover, it comes with multitude of dapps, all built using Sylo Protocol.
You can use Sylo tokens (SYLOs) to unlock additional services and features while access and store content using Sylo Storage, process DApp activities, and so on.
Crypviser is a comprehensive communication and data storage solution allowing users to operate within the secured CV ecosystem.
Cryvisers’ communication suite services includes instant messaging, voice calls and video calls.
The CV ecosystem boast of a full communication suite for:
private communication
secured business
large corporations
The packages includes CV proprietary authentication system and an encrypted local storage.
Moreover, an electronic wallet and also the CVPay payments system allowing to store and transfer CVCoin between Crypviser users.
Finishing Thoughts
Decentralized instant messaging apps seems to be pacing up, not just in the world of cryptocurrency but as a regular app too.
The extreme control that the global tech apps are exerting on the common people signifies that decentralized seems to be the only option.
Moreover, government and tech companies misusing user data is become too frequent nowadays.
In such scenarios, decentralized alternatives seems to be the saving grace.
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