[liberationtech] Fwd: Re: The Vibe App, Anonymous GeoSocial Media

[Katrin Verclas]

Our cautionary note to that effect was published here in December 2011:

http://mobileactive.org/tool-review-vibe-messaging-app

On Jan 20, 2012, at 12:24 PM, Nathan of Guardian wrote:

> Just completing the thread here re: Vibe security. In short, there is
> none, and there is ambiguous policy around data retention and privacy. I
> hope I have deterred them from using the word "Anonymous" in their
> marketing from here on out, but we will see.
> 
> In short, Vibe should *not* be recommended for any situations where
> there is any risk of surveillance or subpoena.
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: 	Re: [liberationtech] The Vibe App, Anonymous GeoSocial Media
> Date: 	Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:59:57 -0500
> From: 	Don Cadora <marketing at vibe-local.com>
> To: 	Michael Rogers <m-- at gmx.com>
> CC: 	nathan at guardianproject.info
> 
> 
> 
> Hey Michael and Nathan,
> 
> So I sent Nathan's comments to Hazem, our developer, and he told me that
> no.... the network isn't secure.
> 
> So I guess I'll have to be careful, especially when communicating to
> groups that are discussing truly anonymous technology, in how I describe
> Vibe. Occupy Wall Street uses it but probably mainly because of its
> geolocation capability.
> 
> It's anonymous only on a user to user basis. All posts are stored on a
> database, and although there is no registration, someone on the back end
> can see all the posts connected to one user. And thus deduce who the
> user is?
> 
> And no, the network isn't secure yet, meaning if someones computer is
> being tracked, what they're doing on our network would be known.
> 
> Hazem is giving your feedback to the other developers to consider in the
> future. But for now I think this technology offers only social
> anonymity, not security.
> 
> Guess I have a lot to learn. (Me, Community Manager. Not developer.)
> Thanks again... I'll probably do a followup with the whole list.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Don
> 
> On Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 6:45 PM, Michael Rogers <m-- at gmx.com
> <mailto:m-- at gmx.com>> wrote:
> 
>    Hi Don,
> 
>    On 17/01/12 22:38, Don Cadora wrote:
>> Vibe is anonymous. Users can see where you are and what you have
>    to say,
>> but not who you are. Unless you want them to. Many users opt to
>    tweet their
>> Vibe posts while others create a custom Vibe signature.
> 
>    Can I second Nathan's request for you to elaborate on the meaning of
>    "Vibe is anonymous"? Does the app communicate with the Vibe server? Are
>    connections between the app and the server encrypted? Does the server
>    keep logs? How does the server determine the user's location?
> 
>    Thanks,
>    Michael
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> liberationtech mailing list
> liberationtech at lists.stanford.edu
> 
> Should you need to change your subscription options, please go to:
> 
> https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
> 
> If you would like to receive a daily digest, click "yes" (once you click above) next to "would you like to receive list mail batched in a daily digest?"
> 
> You will need the user name and password you receive from the list moderator in monthly reminders.
> 
> Should you need immediate assistance, please contact the list moderator.
> 
> Please don't forget to follow us on http://twitter.com/#!/Liberationtech


Katrin Verclas
MobileActive.org
katrin at mobileactive.org

skype/twitter: katrinskaya
(347) 281-7191

Check out the new Mobile Media Toolkit at 
http://mobilemediatoolkit.org. To "Making Media Mobile!"

A global network of people using mobile technology for social impact
http://mobileactive.org