Briar is an award‑winning open source secure messaging app that enables truly private peer‑to‑peer communication without relying on centralized servers. Designed for activists, journalists, and anyone who demands resilient, encrypted messaging—even in regions with disrupted internet, Briar supports multiple transport layers, including Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, Tor, and USB drive transfers. Because the entire Briar source code is publicly available and released under a GNU GPL‑3.0‑or‑later license, developers and security auditors can thoroughly review its code, confirm its integrity, and contribute to the project.
With a focus on P2P encryption, Briar uses the Bramble protocol suite (including Handshake, Rendezvous, Transport, and Synchronization layers) to guarantee end‑to‑end encryption and high privacy. Messages, forum posts, and blogs are stored entirely encrypted on user devices, ensuring zero metadata leaks and full confidentiality. The desktop version extends support to Windows, macOS, and Linux, while the Android app continues evolving in Java/Kotlin with reproducible builds to prevent tampering. Secured by routine audits—such as the one conducted by Cure53 in March 2017—Briar exemplifies best practices in secure source code development, making it ideal for developers interested in open standards, encrypted mobile messaging, and decentralized network architectures.
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Author: Michael Rogers & Eleanor Saitta (initial architects), community maintained
Programming Language: Java (Android), Kotlin (Android), Java (Desktop)
License: GNU GPL‑3.0‑or‑later (Android); GNU AGPL‑3.0‑or‑later (Desktop)
Usage Restrictions: Free use under GPL terms; contributions must comply with GPL‑or‑later; no warranty; redistribution requires license copy.