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Session (software)

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 5 min
Session
Session App Logo.svg
Session App Screenshot.png
Screenshot of Session version 1.11.10 on Android (October 2021)
Developer(s)The Oxen Project
Initial releaseFebruary 2020; 4 years ago (2020-02)
Stable release(s) [±]
Android1.16.1 / October 25, 2022; 20 months ago (2022-10-25)
iOS2.2.4 / December 1, 2022; 19 months ago (2022-12-01)
Desktop1.10.4 / November 7, 2022; 20 months ago (2022-11-07)
Repositorygithub.com/oxen-io/session-android/
Operating system
TypeInstant messaging
LicenseBSD-3-Clause
MIT
GPL-3.0
Websitegetsession.org

Session is a cross-platform end-to-end encrypted instant messaging application developed by The Oxen Project under the non-profit Oxen Privacy Tech Foundation (OPTF). It uses decentralized network for transmission. Users can send one-to-one and group messages, which can include files, voice notes, images and videos.[1][2] It also includes oxen cryptocurrency.

Session was forked in 2019 from Signal software.[3] It is open-source and published under the BSD-3-Clause, GPL-3.0 and MIT licenses.[4]

History

Session software development was started in 2019 under the umbrella of OPTF (formerly Loki Foundation), an Australian-based non-profit private technology organization. It was forked from the open-source Signal software. The first general version was released across platforms in February 2020.[5][6]

Features

The Session does not require a telephone number or email address to create an account.[7] It uses a randomly generated 66-digit alpha-numeric number for user creation/identification. Communication (messages, voice clips, photos, and files) between users is end-to-end encrypted using the session protocol, a derivative of the signal protocol. A Tor-like decentralised server network (Oxen Service Nodes) also known as Loki blockchain,[8] is used by Session for transmissions that do not store, track, or log the metadata of user messages.[9] Device IP addresses are never exposed to other users or to servers holding user data. Support up to 100 people in an end-to-end encrypted group chat. Furthermore, it is completely open-source and security checked by third parties.[10][11][12]

Session integrates oxen a cryptocurrency.[13]

Limitations

Session does not support Two-factor authentication. Underlying protocols are still in a developmental phase. Support for multiple devices is still not entirely flawless. Moreover, no support for voice and video calls.[10][11]

Platforms

Session software is available on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux platforms. Users can download the App from their respective stores or GitHub. The Android customer requires Android 6 or above to launch the app. iOS consumers need iOS 12 or later to run the app.[14][15][16]

Technical

The Session uses the Oxen service nodes to communicate. These nodes are a group of distributed, decentralised and sybil-resistant nodes that are operated by the community and make the Oxen network. There are currently more than a thousand nodes in the Oxen network. These service nodes are responsible for the storage and routing of your session messages that scramble the IP addresses of users.[17][18]

References

  1. ↑ "Session Is An Encrypted Messenger Geared Towards Privacy Enthusiasts" (in en). https://gadgets.ndtv.com/cryptocurrency/news/session-private-blockchain-messenger-decentralised-nodes-2568208. 
  2. ↑ Das, Ankush. "Session: A Private Messenger That Doesn't Need Phone Number" (in en-US). https://itsfoss.com/session-messenger/. 
  3. ↑ "Release 1.0.0-alpha.1 · oxen-io/session-android" (in en). https://github.com/oxen-io/session-android/releases/tag/1.0.0-alpha.1. 
  4. ↑ "Oxen" (in en). https://github.com/oxen-io. 
  5. ↑ "Release 1.0.0 · oxen-io/session-android" (in en). https://github.com/oxen-io/session-android/releases/tag/1.0.0. 
  6. ↑ "Rebranding Loki Messenger - Loki .network Blog" (in en-US). 2019-12-13. https://loki.network/2019/12/13/rebranding-loki-messenger/. 
  7. ↑ "8 Reasons to Try Session as a Private Messaging App" (in en-US). 2022-02-10. https://www.makeuseof.com/why-try-session-private-messenger/. 
  8. ↑ "New WhatsApp Alternative "Session" Works Without Your Phone Number" (in en-US). 2020-03-09. https://fossbytes.com/open-source-messenger-session-doesnt-even-need-your-phone-number/. 
  9. ↑ Mehta, Ivan (2021-05-04). "This messenger app doesn’t use a phone number to keep your data private" (in en). https://thenextweb.com/news/this-messenger-app-doesnt-use-a-phone-number-to-keep-your-data-private. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Session Messenger Review - Best Secure Messaging App?" (in en-US). https://restoreprivacy.com/secure-encrypted-messaging-apps/session/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Li₿εʁLiøη (2021-07-13). "Session Messenger. Review" (in en). https://liberlion.medium.com/session-messenger-review-d73f99c9860d. 
  12. ↑ Oxen Session Audit Technical Report. Quarkslab SAS. 2021. https://blog.quarkslab.com/resources/2021-05-04_audit-of-session-secure-messaging-application/20-08-Oxen-REP-v1.4.pdf. 
  13. ↑ "No outages, no data leaks: The new WhatsApp killer built on the blockchain creates privacy-focused encrypted messenger" (in en). https://cointelegraph.com/news/no-outages-no-data-leaks-the-new-whatsapp-killer-built-on-the-blockchain-creates-privacy-focused-encrypted-messenger. 
  14. ↑ Session Desktop, Oxen, 2021-10-08, https://github.com/oxen-io/session-desktop, retrieved 2021-10-11 
  15. ↑ "Session - Private Messenger - Overview - Google Play Store - US". https://sensortower.com/android/us/oxen-project/app/session-private-messenger/network.loki.messenger/overview. 
  16. ↑ "Session - Private Messenger - Overview - Apple App Store - US". https://sensortower.com/ios/us/the-loki-project/app/session-private-messenger/1470168868/overview. 
  17. ↑ Jefferys, Kee; Shishmarev, Maxim; Harman, Simon (2020). Session: A Model for End-To-End Encrypted Conversations With Minimal Metadata Leakage. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.04609.pdf. 
  18. ↑ Session iOS, Oxen, 2021-10-11, https://github.com/oxen-io/session-ios, retrieved 2021-10-11 

External links

Category:Cross-platform software Category:Cryptographic software Category:Free instant messaging clients Category:Free security software Category:Free software programmed in Java (programming language) Category:Instant messaging clients programmed in Java Category:Internet privacy software Category:IOS software Category:Secure communication



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