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Good Open Source, Multi-Platform, Secure IM Client?

Posted by Soulskill on from the real-time-tps-report-updates dept.

Phil O. writes "I work for a company with 30+ locations across North America. Some offices have hundreds of employees; some only a dozen. We're looking for a secure, multi-platform IM client we could implement across the organization. One group is pushing for Microsoft's solution, but it has a number of drawbacks (including cost). What other options are out there, and what has worked well in similar situations? Security is a big concern for the company."

3 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. Pidgin w/OTR by andrewd18 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    You could try recommending Pidgin with the Off The Record plugin. I can't say I've personally gone through the code and verified all of its claims, but the plugin looks promising, and it's easy to install.

  2. Pidgin with OTR by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Use Pidgin with OTR. It is a good balance of security and convenience, you just need to be careful about not having your hardware stolen (OTR keys are not symmetrically encrypted the way PGP keys are). You might be able to resolve that by also using whole disk encryption...

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    Palm trees and 8
  3. Skype? by BorgAssimilator · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I've heard good and bad things about Skype. They say that they have encryption, but other "security experts" have said that it's not secure enough for businesses (however, I have no sources to that effect). I use it on occasion to talk to fellow employees, and I like the features it brings (such as the video conferencing capabilities), even if the interface is ugly.

    Then again, skype is more voip than instant messaging, so it may not be what you're looking for. Still, I'd consider it (despite its problems)

    --
    "Intelligence has nothing to do with politics!"
    -Londo Mollari