Submitted by Solaris in Privacy

Have u heard of Utopia? I've even started to mention the ads on the streets. Many say it can be the next way out for Hong Kong protesters to stay safe online as Telegram failed. Any ideas?

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celebratedrecluse wrote

Decentralized is a buzzword now. It is a necessity for a robust system, but just because it is decentralized doesn't mean the threat model isn't functionally aggregated with choke points, nor does it ensure the encryption and general security of the platform is good, nor does it guarantee there aren't backdoors or other exploits/vulnerabilities.

I've never heard of utopia, and I'm skeptical of these type of apps that crop up after protest movements because there's got to be a lot of intelligence agency funding that goes into getting people into honeypots. It looks interesting however, especially in contrast to things like Signal Private Messenger, Whats App, et al which have become very popular.

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mofongo wrote

I looked at their page, it's proprietary and a crypto currency mining app. Literary the worst for privacy.

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celebratedrecluse wrote

lol omg

On a more serious note, using mining isn't inherently that bad of an idea imo. If there are necessary costs for running a platform, a great way to avoid the need for investment capital is to bundle in the precompiled binaries a mining programme, point them to a wallet controlled by the people organizing that network, and have them cash out on a monthly basis. Assuming hash rates between 10-20 H/s, if you had an app with 10,000 users that could provide a lot of funds over time.

For example, I am toying around with the idea of making a better alternative 911 app, to compete with cell 411. In order to do that, there may be use for having the ability to pay certain people for their time or things that they need to provide safe rides/relief to others. For example, if someone wants to provide a ride, it would be great to be able to offer at least partial compensation for the gas/mileage incurred. Additionally, this might be used additionally to help pay for the supplies needed to keep a variety of radical projects going.

So, for example, the app might include a miner configured to handle gently on the hardware, and make a gui for the user to both designate a particular community/affinity group that the money goes to as well as the ability to turn the miner off. In order to make the backend work smoothly, a central operator might cash out the accrued currency once per month and alot the projects their share of the total-- alternatively, particular teams might opt to cash out on their own, which would be simpler for the app creator.

Cell 411 deals with all this in ways that seem pretty bad for privacy and not very user friendly either: they don't handle payments, leaving everything up to cash, and the app itself seems to spy on the user. There's also the issue of a lack of strong vetting/rating/verification process for the people who participate on this open platform-- a trust-based networking style based of the Web of Trust for gpg might be a better method than the completely open, pseudonymous, and anti-privacy/freedom "verify through a cell phone number" approach.

There are existential obstacles at play here, which I would certainly run into as well. However I firmly believe that a free software implementation of an emergency/safe ride software for mobile devices, which is particularly tailored to the needs of marginalized people and anarchists, and perhaps it is possible to create that type of alternative network & infrastructure for people to share resources/labor directly to solve emergencies and chronic issues facing their communities.

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mofongo wrote

What you can do using Utopia?

While using Utopia, you can send personal messages or particulate in a group chat (both public and private), send internal uMail (email used only inside the ecosystem), send voice messages, share files with your friends, make financial transactions denominated in our own cryptocurrency called Crypton. All of this in total privacy.

Even better, while using Utopia you will be earning Cryptons through a process called mining which does not slow down your computer. There is nothing more satisfying than using your favorite software and earning simultaneously.

Lol, no thank you. If you want privacy while out protesting, don't have a phone on you.

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Grsers wrote

Telegram is shit ,better jabber.

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leftunity wrote

By supporting imperialist protesters against a socialist state, you're only impeding the people's revolution. These protesters wave US and UK flags, they wish for a return to the British monarchy, they sing imperialist national anthems, they spread Sinophobia and capitalist propaganda. They are reactionary to their bones.

Don't do the CIA's job for them.

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