FireChat
FireChat is a proprietary mobile app developed by the startup Open Garden which uses wireless mesh networking to enable smartphones to connect via BlueTooth, Wi-Fi, or Apple’s Multipeer Connectivity peer-to-peer without an internet connection.
The app was first introduced in March 2014 for iPhones,[1] and on April 3rd a version for Android devices was released.[2]
FireChat first became popular in 2014 in Iraq following government restrictions on internet use,[3][4] and thereafter during the Hong Kong protests.[5] The developers have stated, however, that "“People need to understand that this is not a tool to communicate anything that would put them in a harmful situation if it were to be discovered by somebody who’s hostile,” he said. “It was not meant for secure or private communications.” The app does not encrypt whatsoever. [6]
References
- ^ Simonite, Tom (28 March 2014). "FireChat Could Be the First in a Wave of Mesh Networking Apps". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Yu, Alan (7 April 2014). "How one app might be a step toward internet everywhere". NPR. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Kuchler, Hannah; Kerr, Simon (22 June 2014). "‘Private internet’ FireChat app grows in popularity in Iraq". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Hern, Alex. "Firechat updates as 40,000 Iraqis download 'mesh' chat app in censored Baghdad". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ faced-with-network-surveillanc.html
- ^ /asia-chats-update-line-kakaotalk-firechat-china/