{"id":9215,"date":"2018-11-26T14:00:41","date_gmt":"2018-11-26T22:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?p=9215"},"modified":"2024-01-31T04:38:19","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T12:38:19","slug":"what-is-off-the-record-otr-messaging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/what-is-off-the-record-otr-messaging\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Off-The-Record (OTR) Messaging?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re a journalist trying to send private information, a businessperson sharing some confidential corporate details, or having an affair behind your spouse\u2019s back, OTR (Off the Record) messaging can be a useful thing for you.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is OTR messaging?<\/h2>\n

OTR is available as a plugin for a number of messengers such as Pidgin, Adium, Tor Messenger, and ChatSecure.\u00a0 \u00a0OTR messaging is used for conversations that \u201cdidn\u2019t happen\u201d. These messages are not stored on the client or on the server so there\u2019s no record of them ever existing.<\/p>\n

While OTR helps you in hiding your conversations, it solves other purposes too. It offers an extra layer of encryption, which makes it safer than regular chat applications.\u00a0\u00a0OTR also adds an authentication factor to the chat, which means that if someone else tried to use your friend\u2019s screen name, it will generate an error message.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

OTR is NOT Google Off The Record<\/h3>\n

Google provides an Off The Record feature that doesn\u2019t allow chat logging. This is pretty much what it does. It doesn\u2019t encrypt or authenticate like the OTR protocol. While the Hangouts messages are not stored in your own history, they might be stored on Google\u2019s servers and can be used for any legal actions.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to use OTR<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. To install OTR, you\u2019ll need to install the messenger on which you want to install it. For example, you can install Pidgin on your PC and register for an account.<\/li>\n
  2. Add a buddy by entering your friend\u2019s address.<\/li>\n
  3. Now you can start a private conversation. To verify the other person, you can establish a shared secret between you two. Or you can also use fingerprint verification.<\/li>\n
  4. Once the authentication part is complete, you can begin chatting with your buddy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    After you\u2019ve ended the session, there\u2019s no way to prove that it was you on the conversation. So if there\u2019s an eavesdropper listening on to your conversations, they cannot tell who was chatting with whom.<\/p>\n

    The only person who knows it was you is the one you were chatting with. So when you start your conversation with someone on OTR, make sure you trust them and they won\u2019t leak your details to others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Whether you\u2019re a journalist trying to send private information, a businessperson sharing some confidential corporate details, or having an affair behind your spouse\u2019s back, OTR (Off the Record) messaging can be a useful thing for you. \u00a0 What is OTR messaging? OTR is available as a plugin for a number of messengers such as Pidgin, … Continue reading “What is Off-The-Record (OTR) Messaging?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":9317,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1001,1,845],"tags":[1000],"class_list":["post-9215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-encryption","category-news","category-guides","tag-secure-messaging"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Off-The-Record (OTR) Messaging?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re a journalist trying to send private information, a businessperson sharing some confidential corporate details, or having an affair behind\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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