Important notes
Re: Pidgin and Adium, if you believe you may be the specific target of surveillance, these aren't the tools for you. Pidgin has had a large number of remotely exploitable vulnerabilites recently, and auditors looking at the code believe there are likely to be many more. Still, these tools are effective against passive mass surveillance, and they're unusually easy to use.
Cryptocat is not a magic bullet. Even though Cryptocat provides useful encryption, you should never trust any piece of software with your life, and Cryptocat is no exception. Cryptocat does not mask your IP address or hide your identity, and, like all software, cannot fully protect against a targeted attack on your person or electronics.
This page was made in consultation with technologists and activists at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and their contribution was invaluable. Thanks EFF!
Wondering why we didn't include (insert app here)? Read our criteria for these recommendations.
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