Kim Dotcom Launches Fully-Encrypted "Skype-Killer" Voice Chat

[Steven Bogos]

Kim Dotcom Launches Fully-Encrypted "Skype-Killer" Voice Chat

Dotcom says his "MegaChat" VOIP program uses end-to-end encryption protocols to keep your chats secure.

Ever since Kim Dotcom [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/edward%20snowden?os=edward+snowden] have been scrambling to create alternatives that are actually secure and private. Now, he's just announced a new VOIP program - MegaChat - that utilizes end-to-end encryption to keep your chats secure.

Dotcom has described the "program", which requires only a web browser and no additional downloads, as a "Skype-killer". Dotcom claimed that "no US-based online service provider can be trusted with your data" and that "Skype has no choice. They must provide the US Government with backdoors". His new MegaChat, just like his Mega file sharing service [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121624-Anti-Piracy-Group-Targets-Mega], will be based in New Zealand.

"We are releasing MegaChat beta step by step. Starting with video calling today," said Dotcom, adding that more features, such as text chat and video conferencing, would follow shortly.

While MegaChat doesn't require any downloads to function, plugins for Google's Chrome and Firefox are available for "faster loading and added resilience against attacks."

Additionally, in order to help quell security concerns, Dotcom is once again offering a cash bounty for anyone who is able to find and report any security flaws in the new software.

Source: The Guardian [http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/22/kim-dotcom-launches-encrypted-voice-chat-skype-killer]

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[Dr.Awkward]

Dotcom has described the "program", which requires only a web browser and no additional downloads, as a "Skype-killer". Dotcom claimed that "no US-based online service provider can be trusted with your data" and that "Skype has no choice. They must provide the US Government with backdoors". His new MegaChat, just like his Mega file sharing service [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121624-Anti-Piracy-Group-Targets-Mega], will be based in New Zealand.

"Skype-killer"? Oh no, not this again... He's got high hopes, I'll give him that, but at most it will be a specific minority that uses this. Even then the people doing illicit or very personal things over Skype tend to treat security as an afterthought, or not even a thought for some...

 

[samahain]

I'll NEVER understand that need some people have to remain fully anonymous at all cost. It's not like someone in a position of authority is likely to tap communications "for the LOL". There are such things as procedures and accountability, you know. So unless you have something to hide, Skype is fine.

Beside, it got Dotcom's name on it. Not touching.

 

[NickBrahz]

I'll NEVER understand that need some people have to remain fully anonymous at all cost. It's not like someone in a position of authority is likely to tap communications "for the LOL". There are such things as procedures and accountability, you know. So unless you have something to hide, Skype is fine.

Beside, it got Dotcom's name on it. Not touching.

Let me go through your house and read every letter and see what you keep in your house, and tell me every single secret you have or anything you do not like to share with people, and i would like to know the names of every friend you have, you have nothing to hide after all, i mean if you are against having every detail in your life an open book then you must be a terrorist or something to hide.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Look I get that he says that its secure, but we all know its not. I'll cite this article as exhibit A)

http://mashable.com/2013/08/09/silent-circle-lavabit-shut-down-to-avoid-nsa-snooping/

Basically they were run out of business when they refused to give up user data to the NSA.

And this is exhibit B)
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Snowden-NSA-spying-iPhone/2015/01/24/id/620541/

Apple has a built in back-door in all iPhones. And you just know Samsung, Microsoft and all the others do too.

The basic point I'm making is no government would allow a fully encrypted website like Skype Killer in their country. They would either force Dotcom to release data(if they don't already have a back door) or simply place an injunction on his site, preventing it from operating. And they'll simply refresh that injunction until Kim Dotcom either cooperates or has to close down.

I know this sounds paranoid, but don't think for a second SkypeKiller isn't being watched.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

I'll NEVER understand that need some people have to remain fully anonymous at all cost. It's not like someone in a position of authority is likely to tap communications "for the LOL". There are such things as procedures and accountability, you know. So unless you have something to hide, Skype is fine.

Beside, it got Dotcom's name on it. Not touching.

First of all, what NickBrahz said.

Secondly, government accountability? AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

[Saulkar]

Skype Killer? I dunno but I seriously hope that this thing finds a steady audience, while staying as secure as modern technology allows.

 

[mavkiel]

Well I guess drug dealers and pedophiles rejoice? Not sure why folks get so god damned paranoid over the government reading your mail. Do you *honestly* think they care about what brand of tentacle porn you like?

 

[Artemicion]

Kim Dotcom is good people.

Not sure why folks get so god damned paranoid over the government reading your mail.

It's less what they might find out, more the principle of the matter.

 

[Adultratedhydra]

Well I guess drug dealers and pedophiles rejoice? Not sure why folks get so god damned paranoid over the government reading your mail. Do you *honestly* think they care about what brand of tentacle porn you like?

Well if its so unimportant, Care to post your Email account info so we can all read through your personal things? I mean it doesnt matter because we dont really care in the end do we?

I mean you're not a drug dealer or pedo so what do you have to be private about? Only criminals want to be private after all.

 

[Kajin]

Well I guess drug dealers and pedophiles rejoice? Not sure why folks get so god damned paranoid over the government reading your mail. Do you *honestly* think they care about what brand of tentacle porn you like?

Well if its so unimportant, Care to post your Email account info so we can all read through your personal things? I mean it doesnt matter because we dont really care in the end do we?

I mean you're not a drug dealer or pedo so what do you have to be private about? Only criminals want to be private after all.

Not really a valid response. Just because a guy doesn't have cause to believe the gubberment is looking over his shoulder doesn't mean he's going to go out of his way to make himself a target of everyone else on the internet. Which is, you know, exactly the sort of thing that happens when one posts account information for all to see.

I mean, I'd be more worried about being a target of government scrutiny if I had something like that on my computer. Go far enough out of your way to hide something and it just makes people want to know more about what you're hiding than they would be if you didn't try so damn hard to hide it.

 

[Xan Krieger]

So Kim Doesnthaveareallastname wants to make this even though he's already on bad terms with the FBI? Bold move, I like it, if it works I'll use it.

 

[Zontar]

If there ever is a Skype-killer, like any other "killer" of a major thing, will not be an intentional one, but instead be one which happenes as a surprise result of its existence.

 

[Kameburger]

I'll NEVER understand that need some people have to remain fully anonymous at all cost. It's not like someone in a position of authority is likely to tap communications "for the LOL". There are such things as procedures and accountability, you know. So unless you have something to hide, Skype is fine.

Beside, it got Dotcom's name on it. Not touching.

I really don't mean to sound insulting, and I apologize if it comes across this way, but I don't understand this kind of thinking to be honest. Of course it is silly to expect everything to stay private, but this kind of thinking that says "If you have nothing to hide then why are you worried?" is just basically saying that you should accept any change regardless of your comfort level, and if it doesn't effect you personally then you shouldn't care about it. While from a practical standpoint, I don't disagree with you. Using facebook is just too damn convenient because everyone has it, I still would like to live in a world where my privacy isn't dependent on taking their word for it.

If someone want privacy for what ever reason, maybe its that they just don't like other people and don't want to share things with them. I for instance don't want to tell you who I'm voting for or how much my salary is because this things are very personal for me, and they are none of your business out of principle. That doesn't mean I don't talk about them with other people, but now lets say facebook does targeted advertising within my private messages, which you know they would love you, that information may become public for no other reason than for them to earn money. Than why is that ok? Because its pain to do anything about it? Because complaining about it is annoying? Sure Kim-dotcom might not be the answer but I really do sympathize with that cause.

 

[Hairless Mammoth]

So what good is it when the rest of your system is compromised? Or a phone next to you is compromised? Also, this is the same guy who is a known embezzler and who is still on trial for alleged copyright infringement charges, major ones. Even if he is sincere here, using this might make you an even bigger target for snooping.

I don't like the government getting pron suggestions from me either, but I also don't like extremist scumbags strapping explosives to their chests and blowing up a bus full of innocents. We are stuck on this razor's edge. Power corrupts, and new tech that has come out in the past 3 decades sure has given many groups more power. But, we also got nutjobs, who are hiding in plain sight in many cases, using the same tech and whatever dangerous objects they can find to terrorize people across the world. Completely blinding any security agency watching out for a real threat to public safety is not good.

I'd say there's no escaping some surveillance, especially from the ones who are extremely good at it, market researchers. Your best bet is to stop posting your life online, and watch the damned politicians for any funny business that might lead us back into another era of McCarthyism. (Another stock phrase that still rings true: history can repeat itself.)

 

[Strazdas]

Sigh. why must it be browser based. why cant it have a proper client. world is obsessed in putting everything in your browser now

There are such things as procedures and accountability, you know.

haha. For you, perhaps. Organizations like NSA has none of such things.

In all seriousness, that analogy doesn't hold.
A house is searched by the police - for a reason.
Communications may have to be monitored by some agency - for a reason.
Cops can cuff you - for a reason.

One of those do not fit here. Thats because communications are monitored without a reason. they are just monitored. all of it.

 

[MetalMagpie]

Meh. If you use any sort of electronic communication, you have to accept that those messages probably aren't "private" in the sense that no one but you and the recipient can read them. Your mobile provider can read your text messages. Your email provider can read your emails. Etc.

Engineers get a lot of surprising little windows into people's lives!

 

[The Lunatic]

Frankly, I'm getting a bit tired of skype. Every update seems to make it worse, so, perhaps I'll migrate from skype to another application.

However, this one doesn't seem too enticing, there's very little that sounds "Skype Killing" to me. Not that it doesn't sound like a decent voice-chat service, but, it seems a very different role than that skype serves.