NymConnect: App to improve privacy on Telegram and more
When it is usually talk about the LinuxverseWithout a doubt, this is deeply linked to not only a feeling of better and greater privacy and anonymity, but to a practical reality. Which is closely linked to the philosophy of the majority of free and open technologies, compared to proprietary and closed technologies, regardless of whether they are free or commercial.
Therefore, here in From Linux, there have been many times that, when publishing an article about some free and open technology (distro, application, system, platform and services), we highlight or focus on the benefits or advantages in terms of computer security, above all, in the privacy and anonymity aspects. Which is easily verifiable, just by taking a small look at a small percentage of said posts related to privacy and anonymity. And in that direction, once more than 2 years ago, we addressed the topic of the Nym Protocol, which was a decentralized and open source project that sought to establish privacy by default in online communications. Meanwhile, now we will tackle a new project from that same development team called “NymConnect”.
Nym Protocol: Open source and decentralized privacy system
But, before starting this present post about the application “NymConnect” and how we can use it with Telegram, we recommend exploring a previous related post, at the end of it:
The protocol Nym offers an open source, decentralized and permissionless privacy system, which in turn, provides complete privacy, allowing other applications, services or blockchains to provide their users with strong metadata protection, both at the network level (mixnet) , such as at the application level (anonymous credentials) without the need to build privacy from scratch.
NymConnect: An app to connect other apps to the Nym Mixnet in favor of privacy
What is the NymConnect app?
According to the Nym Protocol development team in their Official website, this new app “NymConnect”, from the Blockchain and DeFi field, can basically be described as a desktop application with an easy-to-use interface that allows us to connect other applications to the existing online platform called MixNet from the Nym company. In order to protect the privacy of users when communicating or carrying out transactions between them.
Therefore, it is ideal for improve the privacy of instant messaging applications , the Telegram, Matrix and Keybase (for now); and others focused on the Blockchain and DeFi field, such as Electrum and Blockstream Green. However, more generally, it is compatible and useful on any application that can run SOCKS5 to connect and browse/operate on the Internet.
Existing Internet protocols leak sensitive data that can be used without users' knowledge. However, Nym's MixNet protects IP addresses and traffic patterns, and can be integrated into any blockchain, wallet, or application. In addition, it integrates and feeds into the NymConnect app to connect other apps to it, offering them greater and better benefits and advantages in terms of privacy and anonymity. About Nym MixNet
How to use Telegram with this application?
Once downloaded and executed, the NymConnect app for Linux, whose file format is an AppImage and current version is "1.1.21_amd64", we must follow the following steps to achieve connect Telegram to Nym's MixNet, in order to introduce a higher level of privacy and anonymity on the communications we carry out on this application:
From this moment on, everything our traffic will be safer and our conversations will be more private and anonymous, for unknown third parties, with dark intentions.
Summary
In short, if you are one of those Linuxverse users who also like and trust the Blockchain and DeFi technologies, and you require an extra level of privacy and anonymity when using some instant messaging applications such as Telegram, Matrix and Keybase (for now), well, without a doubt, “NymConnect” You will like it and it will be very useful in that sense. But, if you already use any special app or technology, free and open, to reinforce or increase your privacy and anonymity when communicating with others or browsing, let us know via comments, for the benefit of the entire community. Free Software, Open Source and GNU / Linux Community, who reads to us frequently or occasionally.
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