Anonyfish – Chat Anonymously With Another Secret User | Hacker News Reader

Anonyfish – Chat Anonymously With Another Secret User

anonyfish.com

52 pointshornbaker29 comments

CSRF

http://homakov.github.io/#{"url":"https://anonyfish.com/api/...

also why not it snap-chat style and remove messages after 10 s?

I'd rather they fix the part where they don't sort displayed messages by time sent...it's kind of hard to follow conversations.

> Messages are encrypted using AES and BLOWFISH ciphers on the way into the database.

Using a key that is stored in the same database ? How is that useful ?

> IPs and logs aren't stored.

Except when they decide they want to keep logs.

My crypto knowledge is not really up to snuff but doesn't this not use any real end-to-end crypto when it easily could? SSL, AES, and blowfish could all be MITM'd, right?

I'm not sure how much better you can do with a webapp. Either you trust them to encrypt your messages on the server or you trust them to send you JavaScript that does the encryption in the browser. Either way you need to trust the app provider. SSL should ensure it is not MITMed before it gets to their server.

In this case a SSL certificate which is certified by 'GoDaddy.com, Inc.'. Not too trustworthy if you ask me.

> or you trust them to send you JavaScript that does the encryption in the browser

I don't need to give trust in that case, as I could verify the encryption myself.

You won't though.

I doubt that most users of a service are in any position to audit complex crypto code.

That doesn't really matter, because they don't need to. All it takes is one crypto-savvy person taking an interest and finding a fault, then posting about it.

Even if they do actively cheat and provide some obscure not-really crypto to give an impression of security, they need to put in an effort, whereas with serverside encryption they could cheat for free. There is also a constant risk of some techie discovering their lack of security.

Anyway, it doesn't matter if you consider auditable security imperfect. Auditable security is objectively more trustworthy than non-auditable security.

every time you use the app.

The site uses Google APIs. I'd rather prefer Google not knowing every time I want to chat anonymously.

UX needs work. Literally have no idea what's happening after I "log in". Description sounds like chat roulette bu the reality is being unable to talk to anyone.

Another fish-name gone. For those in need of a name for their next product, I asked my corporate name generator oracle (written in bash, no less!) to cough up a few:

UnsteadyWhale WorthwhileMonkey WealthyLizard VerifiableMonkey PerkyWeasel DarlingCow Wide-eyedFrog FrighteningHippo OddMoose ReasonableWhale GrubbyDonkey

Just imagine your next website, showing nothing but a large screen-blanketing image of carefree happy coffee consumers, a pulsating 'scroll down' button and your GrubbyDonkey logo. The VC's will be chomping at the doorhandle, trust me.

Why not add the Stanford Javascript Crypto Library to this, to address the concern mentioned by jabgrabdthrow?

https://github.com/bitwiseshiftleft/sjcl

I'm not saying that's going to plug all holes but maybe it can be one piece.

At least today you still have to trust the JavaScript the server sends you.

I have heard talk in the past about adding code signing to browsers. Combined with open-source code and a security audit this could potentially offer something approaching the security of a traditional application.

Made a handle: mistersanfrancisco

Honestly, don't really understand the use case here. What is the benefit that something like HN doesn't already provide? Everyone on HN knows my handle is thrush, so can comment at me, or dm me using any contact info I've provided. On anonyfish, I can't even use the service unless I have someone in mind. In fact, the only names I have to contact are the ones provided in this thread, and it's a pretty short list.

  - angersock
  - CaptainBananaPants

EDIT:

Omegle (http://www.omegle.com/) seems way better. Allows anonymity (or so it claims), can match people based on interests, and can even match people in the same university based on their .edu email address.

503.

Edit:

Back as me, angersock. Message me if you're feeling like a chat now in the wee hours of the morning.

EDIT2:

Man, I really wish we could have this update in real time... :|

EDIT3:

So far, two people with racist names, one person quoting batman. I'm not impressed so far with the level of discourse.

EDIT4:

Alright, we seem to be doing better.

If you found this headline interesting, you'll probably enjoy https://chat.echoplex.us/

Idea : Chat anonymously with another HN user

try also Geospot which is geolocalized neaby chat. http://geospot.meteor.com

Talk to me. I'm 'CaptainBananaPants'

how is it supposed to work as I don't know the username of any anonymous user :) sorry but i didn't understand this..

Check the thread for people mentioning their handles. :)

Anonymous... but you have to register? What?

it lets you create a password with only one character. can the password can be updated?

"Annoyfish" is what I read it as, it's probably not very far off.

In what way? Something you don't like? How should it be improved?

omegle with persistant usernames?

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