Submitted by Anders Batten on
The encrypted desktop chat app and browser plugin Cryptocat is finally available for iOS devices after initially being rejected by Apple's app review team. The app uses the Off-the-Record Messaging (OTR) protocol to allow users the ability to send group messages without the fear of being monitored.
Founder Nadim Kobeiss told The Verge that the chat app was rejected by Apple for "illegitimate" reasons and that the App Store problems had been fixed.
"There was some very important help given by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and we ended up scheduling a conversation with Apple, and after a while Apple was very gracious and understanding," he said. "I couldn't be happier with Apple right now."
Cryptocat is now available for free on the Apple App Store. The app doesn't require any setup or user information, such as user names or email verification, and there is no chat log history.
Cryptocat is also available as an app for the Mac, and as an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera.
Here's the official App Store description:Easily have group conversations with your friends without fearing monitoring or interception. Cryptocat is free, open chat that aims to provide an open, accessible Instant Messaging environment with a transparent layer of encryption that's easy to use.
Cryptocat is developed by privacy advocates, for privacy advocates. Big Data providers continue to amass gigantic amounts of personal information without providing any guarantee of privacy, while encryption remains largely inaccessible. This means that a lot of what you do online is not within your control, but rather susceptible to governmental or corporate interception.
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Cryptocat aims to bridge the gap for those who need encrypted communications that are easily accessible.