San Francisco-based startup Wickr has released the beta version of its encrypted text messaging app for devices running on Android operating system.
The self destucting messaging app, Wickr, allows users to send ephemeral messages that can shred their metadata including the time, location, and identity stamps, ensuring the ‘privacy of the message’.
The secure text messaging app is claimed to use AES-256, RSA-4096, ECDH-521, Transport Layer Security and SHA-256 to encode data, while its stored on a server and transferred between devices, respectively.
The company said it would meet the HIPAA standards for medical record privacy and encryption including military grade FIPS 140-2 and is also NSA Suite B compliant.
The app uses Perfect Forward Secrecy, an encryption technique that generates and uses encryption keys and deletes them immediately, the company said.
Wickr co-founder and CTO Dr Robert Statica said the app offers not only a secure form of correspondence but also helps protect users’ contacts..
"Most importantly, Wickr does not collect any personally identifiable information on users nor can we read any messages or contents sent through Wickr, therefore, no criminal or rogue government can take them from us," Statica said.
Wickr said it would allow users to send and receive free texts, photos, videos and voice messages which can be controlled by the sender.
