OTR

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

OTR (Off-the-Record Messaging) is a cryptographic protocol that provides encryption for instant messaging conversations. It ensures that the communication is private and secure, offering features such as authentication, encryption, deniability, and perfect forward secrecy.

Features[edit | edit source]

OTR offers several key features that make it a preferred choice for secure communication:

  • Encryption: Ensures that the messages are only readable by the intended recipient.
  • Authentication: Verifies the identity of the participants in the conversation.
  • Deniability: Ensures that the messages cannot be proven to have come from a specific user, providing plausible deniability.
  • Perfect Forward Secrecy: Ensures that even if long-term keys are compromised, past communication remains secure.

History[edit | edit source]

OTR was developed by Ian Goldberg and Nik Unger in 2004. It was designed to address the need for secure and private communication in the context of instant messaging.

Protocol[edit | edit source]

The OTR protocol operates by establishing a secure channel over an existing instant messaging protocol. It uses a combination of the Diffie-Hellman key exchange and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt messages. The protocol also employs the SHA-1 hash function for message integrity.

Implementation[edit | edit source]

OTR can be implemented in various instant messaging clients through plugins or built-in support. Some popular clients that support OTR include Pidgin, Adium, and Jitsi.

Security Considerations[edit | edit source]

While OTR provides strong security features, it is important to note that it relies on the security of the underlying instant messaging protocol. Users should ensure that their messaging clients and systems are up-to-date and free from vulnerabilities.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD