186 lines
12 KiB
HTML
186 lines
12 KiB
HTML
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</style>
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</head>
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<body>
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<div class="wrap">
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<nav class="top">
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<a class="brand" href="/">SecureBit.chat</a>
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<a href="/docs/">Documentation</a>
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<a href="https://github.com/SecureBitChat/securebit-chat" rel="noopener">GitHub</a>
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<span class="here">Use policy and limitations</span>
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</nav>
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<h1>Use policy and limitations</h1>
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<p>SecureBit.chat is open-source software for private communication, research and
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education. It is provided as is, without warranty of any kind. This document sets
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out what the software can and cannot do for you, and what is expected of you when
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you use it.</p>
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<h2 id="what-it-protects">What it protects</h2>
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<p>Message content between two verified peers, against anyone observing or
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manipulating the network between them. That is a real guarantee and it is what
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the design is built around.</p>
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<h2 id="what-it-does-not-protect">What it does not protect</h2>
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<p>Be clear about these before relying on the software for anything that matters.</p>
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<p><strong>A compromised device.</strong> Malware, a hostile browser extension, a keylogger or
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someone with access to an unlocked machine sees your messages as you do. No
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transport encryption helps. This is the most common way private communication is
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actually broken.</p>
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<p><strong>The person you are talking to.</strong> They can screenshot, photograph the screen,
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copy the text, or simply repeat what you said. View-once and disappearing
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messages are cooperative features that a normal client honours; they are not a
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technical restriction on a determined recipient.</p>
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<p><strong>Verification you skipped.</strong> If you do not compare the safety code, or you
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compare it over a channel the attacker controls, the software cannot tell that
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someone is in the middle. The comparison must happen over something an attacker
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cannot impersonate: in person, or a voice you recognise.</p>
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<p><strong>Metadata, depending on your setup.</strong> A direct connection reveals your IP
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address to the peer. Relay-only mode with your own TURN server prevents that, but
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the relay operator can then see both addresses and the timing of traffic, though
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never the content. Choose according to who you are protecting against.</p>
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<p><strong>The fact that you are using it.</strong> Someone watching your network can see a
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WebRTC connection and can see you loading this application. The software does not
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hide its own use.</p>
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<h2 id="your-responsibilities">Your responsibilities</h2>
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<ul>
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<li>Comply with the law where you are and with any policies that apply to you</li>
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<li>Keep your device and browser current and under your control</li>
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<li>Compare the safety code out of band, every time, on every new session</li>
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<li>Configure TURN correctly if you need relay-only mode, and verify it works</li>
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<li>Understand that endpoint compromise defeats everything above the endpoint</li>
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</ul>
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<h2 id="intended-use">Intended use</h2>
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<p>The software is meant for legitimate private communication: journalism and source
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protection, human rights work, business confidentiality, medical and legal
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matters, research and education, and ordinary personal conversation that is
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nobody else's business.</p>
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<p>It is not meant to facilitate unlawful activity, abuse, harassment, exploitation
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or harm, and being able to communicate privately does not make any of those
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acceptable.</p>
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<p>If you become aware of the software being used to harm someone, report it to the
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appropriate authorities. Vulnerabilities in the software itself go to the
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maintainers first: see <a href="https://github.com/SecureBitChat/securebit-chat/blob/main/SECURITY.md">SECURITY.md</a>.</p>
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<h2 id="operational-notes">Operational notes</h2>
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<p>If your threat model is serious, the software is only one part of it.</p>
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<p>Use a device you control and keep it patched. Consider a separate device for
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sensitive conversations. Be aware of who can see your screen and who can hear
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you. Understand that a camera and microphone are attached to the machine you are
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typing on. Consider what your network operator can observe, and whether a VPN or
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Tor changes that in your favour or simply moves the observation point.</p>
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<p>Know the law where you are. Encryption is regulated differently in different
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places, and in some jurisdictions there are disclosure requirements attached to
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it.</p>
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<h2 id="contributing">Contributing</h2>
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<p>Contributions are welcome under the same expectations. Report vulnerabilities
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through the process in <a href="https://github.com/SecureBitChat/securebit-chat/blob/main/SECURITY.md">SECURITY.md</a> rather than publishing them,
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and give a fix reasonable time to reach users before disclosure. Users who have
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not updated yet are the ones exposed by early publication.</p>
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<p>See <a href="/docs/contributing/">CONTRIBUTING.md</a> for the development workflow.</p>
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<nav class="more">
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<h2>More documentation</h2>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="/docs/">Documentation</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/faq/">Frequently asked questions</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/architecture/">Architecture</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/cryptography/">Cryptography</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/descriptor-sbq2/">SBQ2 — connection descriptor v2</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/configuration/">Configuration</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/calls/">Voice and video calls</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/api/">API Notes</a></li>
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<li><a href="/docs/contributing/">Contributing</a></li>
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</ul>
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</nav>
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</div>
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</body>
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</html>
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