A group of free software developers have long worked on Tox, a "secure messaging for all" service that has exploited the many suspicions generated by the discovery of the PRISM program and other government surveillance projects.
Tox's options include being able to send messages –which are encrypted instantly–, make calls –also safe and free from Tox to Tox– or make video calls, also in a secure way and that again to some extent imitates Skype features and other VoIP services.
The source code of the application is available at GitHub, and as explained there:
The goal of this project is to create a configuration-free P2P replacement for Skype. Free of configuration means that the user will simply have to open the program and without any account configuration they will be able to add people to their friends list and start chatting with them.
The idea is to facilitate access to this type of possibility in a much easier way, something that for now the clients that compete with Skype have not achieved. The developers of Tox indicate that this application will be available very soon, but the most impatient can use the mentioned source code to start testing.
Main features
- Encrypted connection that guarantees your privacy.
- Point-to-point connection, without going through servers.
- Supports group chats.
- Messaging, video conferencing and voice calls.
- It is an open source development
Clients available
Unlike other alternatives, such as Skype, Tox is only the protocol and the APIs necessary to use it. However, being free software, anyone can build a client for Tox. Existing clients are listed at http://wiki.tox.im/Clients, and include:
- cross-platform GTK client (https://github.com/naxuroqa/Venom)
- cross-platform Qt client (https://github.com/nurupo/ProjectTox-Qt GUI)
- OS X client (https://github.com/stal888/Poison)
- iOS client (https://github.com/Jman012/Toxicity)
- Android client (https://github.com/Astonex/Antox)
- ncurses-based terminal client (https://github.com/Tox/toxic)
Installation
En Debian / Ubuntu and derivatives:
32bit:
wget https://jenkins.libtoxcore.so/job/uTox_linux_i686/lastSuccessfulBuild/artifact/utox/utox_linux_i686.tar.xz tar -xvf utox / utox_linux_i686.tar.xz ./utox
64bit:
wget https://jenkins.libtoxcore.so/job/uTox_linux_amd64/lastSuccessfulBuild/artifact/utox/utox_linux_amd64.tar.xz tar -xvf utox_linux_amd64.tar.xz ./utox
En Arch and derivatives:
yaourt -Sutox-git
OpenSUSE users can install it using 1 click install, selecting the version of the distro.
The rest, you can download the source code and compile it (there is a script that automates the whole process):
Finally, as an example, let's see how to install Venom, the TOX GTK client.
En Debian / Ubuntu and derivatives:
You have to download the corresponding deb package (32 or 64 bits) from the official project page. Once downloaded, it must be installed with the following command (replacing the package name accordingly):
sudo dpkg -i Venom-0.2.0-Linux.deb
En Arch and derivatives:
yaourt -S venom-git
Am I the only one who doesn't see it as a 100% alternative? It is an alternative, from my point of view, when I can use a program regardless of the account with which I log in. It costs a lot to explain to another user "Hey, I don't use Skype, install Tox and sign up and we'll talk over there." Because everyone ends up saying "But ... everyone talks on Skype." The program is very good, I like it, but it is not an alternative to Skype, it is a program similar to Skype and open source.
Totally agree, unfortunately people use Skype and will continue to do so, almost impossible to make them switch to something else, especially if they do the same in the end. For people to switch, they should have something very new that is not found on skype, and encryption is not something that interests most.
That same. There is another client that has been for many years the instant messaging client that has left Windows Live Messenger in second place in China, and in recent years, it has managed to solve many deficiencies that it (and even Skype) have not been able to adapt . Is named Tencent QQ, and is available in Spanish and comes with a built-in translator to avoid problems with languages (especially if you want to converse with people from the Asian giant).
The good news is that it is available on Pidgin so that you can use it for communications (even for video calls). Therefore, I see said Chinese messenger as a tangible alternative to be able to make up for the absence of the old Messenger (because it even has the classic "buzz"), and its quality of service has improved a lot since I tried the client in English almost ago 10 years.
Some people's problem is, "If a lot of people use it, it must be good." Look at Firefox without going any further, it took years to equal the number of users to Internet Explorer, and Chrome / Chromium was finishing the task.
There is also the Telegram / Watsapp issue. Telegram is good, it allows you to send files that the other cannot, they are stored in the cloud, so you don't lose them, etc, but many use the other unfortunately, now I only have Telegram on my PC.
Humble opinion…
I think it is time to stop making so much effort to develop free versions of existing software and instead start working seriously so that all proprietary software is free or at least open.
We can always develop a new facebook that respects users, or a google, or a skype, or a windows, it's just a matter of time.
But the real advance would be for society as a whole to press hard enough to ensure that all those existing services and programs respect the freedoms and rights of users.
«…… .But the real advance would be for society as a whole to press hard enough to ensure that all those existing services and programs respect the freedoms and rights of users.
+10 ...
All the best
Javi
The alternative to that which you propose already exists ... it is called WebRTC. You simply have to agree on a time and pass a link and you can make a video-conference through the web browser.
So far as I remember, Opera Blink is the first to fix the WebRTC bug (revealed by The Other Side of Evil : v). The interesting thing would be to use the DRM tools for HTML5 (such as EME and MSE) to be able to use the GPG as if it were a DRM system in order to encrypt video calls.
Occasionally, not all entities joining the open source world engage in sabotage (as is the case with the NSA and its free tool SELinux, as well as the MPAA and HTML5 DRM systems such as EME and MSE).
Hi. As I understand it, with Tox you DO NOT HAVE TO REGISTER anywhere, it is like having the phone number of a friend, without intermediaries.
I find you absolutely right, especially because I have credits
Interesting proposal from Tox, although I would like there to be only one official Tox client to avoid confusion among the many clients that have been generated in that service.
It's Free Software! , seeing the licenses these are GPL V3 greetings
That same. Still, I'll take a look at said instant messenger client.
Well, I do believe that it is an alternative, and I think the opportunity is pearl to promote the project, since Microsoft continues to screw up since I bought Skype. Let me explain: not only is it enough for this Goliath of capitalism to saturate the welcome interface with unwanted advertising, (even with advertising messages from contacts to whom you have never provided your identity!), But he manages more and more for the user to subscribe to an account in hotmail or in outlook, which seems to be the preamble of a forced measure in the future. And I believe that many are not willing to open another email account. So if there is an alternative: open a Microsoft email account to continue with Skype or install a program that does not "force" one to anything. For the rest, we must stop being pessimistic, I see that people are increasingly approaching free software, there is still a way to go, but things have improved substantially if you take a look back. (excuse me for the horrography but I'm on a damn French keyboard)
I just love this, I have been using it eventually with my family for a few months now .. ..it is great, multiplatform, safe, fast, functional .. I see no excuse not to use it ..
I simply don't have Skype, Hangouts, Facebook, or WhatsApp ... I am happy and whoever wants to contact me already knows that they can send me mail or now communicate via Tox ... and there is no other way .. ..yes They want this type of application to be used, you have to encourage and use them .. 😉
Very good, I'll be STUNED!
The link seems outdated, there is nothing.
cross-platform Qt client
https://github.com/nurupo/ProjectTox-Qt%20GUI
You are right! I already corrected it.
This is very good news for those of us who value privacy, which is the most precious thing in people, it was about time that there was an alternative to Skype ... where we can communicate in writing .... by audio… ..or by video call. It would be good if Tox is compatible with windows and thus there would be no communication problems with other systems that have skype. Pidgin is insufficient that neither the protocols are not stable in text.
There are conformist or pessimistic people to everything,… .palo because you row… .palo because you don't row, .. they simply settle with mediocre messengers and put objections to everything, .. it seems that they were people from other systems who do not want me to remove the windows instant messaging monopoly and thus not advance Linux.
Tox Vs. Skype, I am very optimistic, in fact I have no doubts Tox (and without knowing it) sweeps.
Tox, as it is an open protocol, will be incorporated by all, even closed source and / or proprietary ones with extensions so as not to break the license.
In other words, they are wrong if they see it that way, that is, Tox Vs. Skype, because in reality they are going to be Everyone Vs. Skype.
The truth is, I can't explain how it works without the need for a central server.
Someone to explain to me?
Hi. I think the answer is here [url] https://github.com/irungentoo/toxcore [/ url] and I quote:
«Connecting & Communicating
Every peer is represented as a byte string (the public key [Tox ID] of the peer). By using torrent-style DHT, peers can find the IP of other peers by using their Tox ID. Once the IP is obtained, peers can initiate a secure connection with each other. Once the connection is made, peers can exchange messages, send files, start video chats, etc. using encrypted communications. »
In other words, as I understand it, it works like a torrent client when you use a "magnet link", each client is identified with a number you only need to know your friends' number and they yours, that simple.
Yes, I saw it a while ago, from what I see it is evolving fast, when it comes out I will not hesitate to put it on.
These applications and programs that protect privacy, the truth that they are what the web needs.
Too bad I can't say the same for WordPress, the client used on this page.
With WebRTC just around the corner ...
Open Source, guarantee of freedom for GNU / Linux users; It is worth trying to understand, that: how? for what? and why? of the source codes.
cat /usr/include/glib-2.0/glib/gtypes.h | less
What does this header do, what is its purpose in the programs where it is used. Getting complicated for some is perhaps somewhat clumsy, but if you want to understand something, I think there is no other way.
If there are people who do not care, what the programs do with their computers, with their privacy, that is, with their information, surely they will always need a pastor to take care of them, and surely they will have to conform when he decides sacrifice them.
All very nice but I think like the first comment of the ubuntero. 99% of my acquaintances use Skype. The other 1% are computer scientists and I can fix using firefox 33 or tox but it is not the majority.
Very good that application, great.
Yes ... very good and I support it 100% but it does not offer anything new for the common people to use it en masse. One would have to wait for a very alarming Skype data breach / leak to be made public in the media (like the one that the creators of Telegram took advantage of with the problems of WhatsApp).
Besides, there were already free or non-invasive privacy alternatives such as (jitsi, ekiga) or via the web ...
Silly question (for a silly subject), I am clear that you can not add people who use Skype, but there is no extension or something that allows it? outside of that could you please later
Are avatars still not functional? 🙁
I recently tried it with a friend. My friend, a Skype slave, doesn't like me, besides, he told me that about, so I have to tell all my contacts to migrate to Tox? I leave it there.
I see it future, but for now I see it green or that's the feeling when I install it on a Kubuntu 14.04. Failure in the file transfers that produces crashes, also, if they send you an image and it arrives, the image is seen in the chat window, but you cannot download it, the regular audio, the webcam does not get to test it.
What worked 100% was the chat. Hopefully go ahead and get us out of the proprietary Skype.
The post is appreciated, for my part I will hope that Tox has more tables. The project looks good.
For me it is an alternative to Skype, since Skype on mobiles or even on desktop
it tends to give a lot of problems, Skype has become unstable over time
in android it is impossible to have a conversation over wifi the call is cut off and the call drops, I will try 'Tox, if I find it, I will replace' Skype
and for fedora 20 onwards there will be the way to install it, thanks
Good morning
I have chosen the simplest way and connected to skype through pidgin, a greeting
PS: Testing i386 architecture software installation on Debian 8 with Playonlinux.