Tox: an encrypted messaging client

Today there is a great need to be in communication, technology has done its thing in having us communicate with other people in real time, since there are countless applications focused on instant messaging. One of the well-known applications is Skype, although this has its cons, it is still one of the most used applications, that is why today I am talking about Tox. 

Tox is an encrypted messaging client, Free and open source that allows you to communicate securely with your family, friends and colleagues. Is completely decentralized using peer-to-peer messenger without depending on any central server. No one knows who you are communicating with, except the recipient, of course.

Tox is one of the main alternatives to Skype and it advertises itself as "secure messaging for everyone", offering its users greater security using a client that, being open source, guarantees the integrity of the application.

Application is based on a principle which is:

It is a distributed system, peer-to-peer (point-to-point) and with end-to-end encryption, with no way for anyone or anything to disable the encryption options it incorporates. There are no servers storing data at either end of the chain.

Use the NaCl library to build your high-level encryption. It protects the privacy of its users by eliminating the need to rely on central authorities to provide messaging services. The project of this app has been started by a single anonymous developer in 2013, and now hundreds of active developers are contributing to this project.

Tox Features

The application has many functions, among which we can highlight the following:

• Messaging client
•  Images
• Emoticons
• Videoconferencing
• Multiplatform (mobile clients are still under development)
•  Audio calls, including group calls
• Open protocol
• Use P2P
• Use encryption in all communications

The project still It is in development, but it can already be used in any operating systemIn the future we will also be able to see it on mobile devices, standing up to the widely used Skype as a private, free and secure alternative.

Tox availability on other platforms.

Tox supports Linux, Windows, OSX, BSD and Android operating systems right now, and of course the developers are working hard to extend this project to other platforms as well. The application is completely free as in freedom, so you can use it, modify it and share it with others.

The following is a list of Tox clients available for various platforms.

QTox - A graphical user interface for Tox. It is available for Linux, Windows, OSX, BSD, and Android;

• UTox- A graphical user interface for Tox. It is available for Linux, Windows, OSX, BSD, and Android;
• Castor- A graphical user interface for Tox. It is available for Linux;
• Toxic- A command line interface for Tox. It is available for Linux, OSX, and BSD;
• Anthox- A graphical user interface for Tox. It is available for Android;
• Antidote- A graphical user interface for Tox. It is available for iOS.

How to install Tox on Ubuntu 17.04?

To download Tox and install it on the system we must add its repository and perform the installation process, we do this with the following commands:

echo "deb https://pkg.tox.chat/debian stable $(lsb_release -cs)" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tox.list

wget -qO - https://pkg.tox.chat/debian/pkg.gpg.key | sudo apt-key add -

sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install utox

How to uninstall Tox in Ubuntu 17.04?

If for any reason you no longer want to have the application on your system, to completely remove it, we do it with the following commands:

sudo apt-get remove utox

sudo apt-get remove --auto-remove utox

Tox seek the help of any developer who is willing to give a hand with the development of the project to improve the client and solve the bugs that may be found, so if you want to contribute or take a look at its source code is available at GitHub.