Out in the Open: Hackers Build a Skype That’s Not Controlled by Microsoft
http://www.wired.com/2014/09/tox/
Out in the Open: Hackers Build a Skype Thats Not Controlled by Microsoft
By Klint Finley
09.01.14
The web forum 4chan is known mostly as a place to share juvenile and, to put it mildly, politically incorrect images. But its also the birthplace of one of the latest attempts to subvert the NSAs mass surveillance program.
When whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that full extent of the NSAs activities last year, members of the sites tech forum started talking about the need for a more secure alternative to Skype. Soon, theyd opened a chat room to discuss the project and created an account on the code hosting and collaboration site GitHub and began uploading code.
Eventually, they settled on the name Tox, and you can already download prototypes of the surprisingly easy-to-use tool. The tool is part of a widespread effort to create secure online communication tools that are controlled not only by any one company, but by the world at largea continued reaction to the Snowden revelations. This includes everything from instant messaging tools to email services.
Its too early to count on Tox to protect you from eavesdroppers and spies. Like so many other new tools, its still in the early stages of development and has yet to receive the scrutiny that other security tools, such as the instant messaging encryption plugin Off The Record has. But it endeavors to carve a unique niche within the secure communications ecosystem.