[Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol](https://xmpp.org/about). - A communications protocol based on XML that has been in development since 1999. Ever since the standard has been incrementally developed to add more functionality. It is the underlying technology that powers a lot of well known chat applications such as WhatsApp and Google Talk.
@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ A group of servers which agreed upon certain standards to communicate with each
A vertically integrated service that includes both exclusive client and server software. In this scenario, most of the time, the user can only run one specific client and only interact with other users from the same service.
## Software: Clients
### Software: Clients
As featured in our guide on [XMPP clients](http://homebrewserver.club/picking-modern-xmpp-clients.html):
<aname='conversations'></a>
@ -56,12 +56,18 @@ As featured in our guide on [XMPP clients](http://homebrewserver.club/picking-mo
<aname='chatsecure'></a>
[ChatSecure](http://chatsecure.org/) - Mobile client for Apple iOS, 'experimental', but in active development.
Other popular clients not featured in our guide:
<aname='adium'></a>
[Adium](https://adium.im/) - Desktop client for Apple macOS.
[Adium](https://adium.im/) - Desktop client for Apple macOS. The OSX version of Pidgin
[Kaiwa](http://getkaiwa.com/) - A webclient, so it runs in the browser. Supports a lot of features and XEPs. Win/Lin/OSX
[Pidgin](https://www.pidgin.im/about/) A client which supports a number of messaging standards including XMPP. Recently implemented [support for OMEMO](https://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/16801).
[There are many more clients available](https://xmpp.org/software/clients.html). Check your local F-Droid/Google Play Store/AppStore.
## Software: Server
### Software: Server
<aname='prosody'></a>
[Prosody](http://prosody.im/) - Open Source XMPP Server software written in [LUA](https://www.lua.org/about.html). It is actively being developed and is notable for the [large ammount of supported XEPs](http://prosody.im/doc/xeplist).
@ -80,12 +86,12 @@ Encrypts communication while it is in transit between client and server (c2s) or
Depending on your threat model, in case you and your contacts share the same trusted XMPP server, transport layer encryption might be enough to safeguard your privacy.
<aname='e2e'></a>
### end-to-end encryption (e2e)
### End-To-End Encryption (e2e)
End-to-end ciphers is client side method for encrypting messages. Only the sender, and the receiver, at both ends of the communication chain, can read the message, but not the servers in between.
<aname='otr'></a>
<spanstyle="color:#fe4a49">OTR</span> -
"Off-The-Record" is one of the older forms of e2e encryption available in some messaging clients. The big disadvantage of OTR is that both clients need to be online at the same time for the encrypted session to work.
"Off-The-Record" is one of the older forms of e2e encryption available in some messaging clients. The big disadvantage of OTR is that both clients need to be online at the same time for the encrypted session to work. It is also not possible to synchronize OTR encrypted messages across mutliple clients.
<aname='omemo'></a>
<spanstyle="color:#fe4a49">OMEMO</span> -
@ -104,8 +110,7 @@ Pretty good Privacy is the oldest generic method for end-to-end encryption. It r
Obviously this differs from situation to situation. Are you a political activists or dissident trying to organise for direct action and trying to avoid surveillance from governement agencies? Are you the user of a popular social network, trying to protect as much as possible your most confidential information from your private life? Are you an office worker trying to leak confidential information about unethical activities of your employer while remaining anonymous? Are you a user of public or private torrent trackers hoping to get away with mass downloading and uploading of whole seasons of The Great British Baking Show? Every situation is different, every situation needs a specific understanding of what is at stake and what would be the consequence if what you try to protect is exposed. Don't believe in magical solutions, do your homework.
This list is partly based [on this glossary](https://wiki.xmpp.org/web/Usability/Glossary)
------------------------------------------------
This list is partly based [on this glossary](https://wiki.xmpp.org/web/Usability/Glossary)
This guide is a companion to our article [Have You Considered The Alternative?](http://homebrewserver.club/have-you-considered-the-alternative.html) on instant messaging. Also check out our guide on [configuring the self-hosted XMPP server Prosody](http://homebrewserver.club/configuring-a-modern-xmpp-server.html), and our guide on [XMPP clients](http://homebrewserver.club/picking-modern-xmpp-clients.html).
