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Cwtch

Best suited for
Users on supported platforms who accept Tor and a specialised tool. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Avoid if…
You use iPhone or need calls. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Main strength
Onion architecture without a single central account server. [1] [2]
Main weakness
No iOS; niche ecosystem and more limited assurance. [1] [2]
Account identifier
Local / onion profile; no phone or email required. [1] [2]
iOS
No official client established in the study. [1] [2]
Android
Yes, client listed in the study. [1]
Windows
Yes, client listed in the study. [1] [2]
macOS
Yes, client listed in the study. [1] [2]
Linux
Yes, client listed in the study. [1] [2]
Confidence and scope
More limited current assurance and audits; Tor does not establish global resistance. [1] [2]

Compare Cwtch

What your contact learns

What the contact learns
The contact receives messages and the profile you share, and can keep a copy. [1] [2]

What the provider learns

What the provider learns
No single central provider; relays and peers have local visibility. [1] [2]

Other observers

What the network / ISP learns
The network sees destinations, timing and volume; Tor or a relay changes the observer. [1] [2]
Apple / Google exposure
Store, installation and push can create metadata; exact profile linkage depends on the OS and was not tested here. [1] [2]
Public law-enforcement evidence
No individual disclosure case established here; this does not prove an absence of requests or data. [1] [2]

Encryption and keys

E2EE
E2EE through onion services according to published design. [1] [2]
Forward secrecy
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.
Post-compromise security
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.
Key verification
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.

Metadata and identity

Metadata exposure
Reduced central concentration; presence and traffic correlation remain possible. [1] [2]
Global user ID
Persistent onion identity; no single central account. [1] [2]
Username / discovery
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.
Push notifications
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.

Calls, IP and groups

IP exposure to peer
Messages through onion; no established calls; Tor does not defeat a global observer. [1] [2]
Relay / TURN
Onion / Tor services with distributed visibility. [1] [2]
Calls
No current calls established in the study. [1] [2]
Groups
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.

Devices and backups

Multi-device
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.
Backups
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.

Audits, limitations and public cases

Audits
Unknown: not established for the version and configuration in question.
Source code and binaries
Repositories and component-specific scopes recorded in Phase 2; no current binary rebuilt bit-for-bit here. [1] [2]
Main weakness
No iOS; niche ecosystem and more limited assurance. [1] [2]
Public law-enforcement evidence
No individual disclosure case established here; this does not prove an absence of requests or data. [1] [2]

Configuration and unknowns

Recommended configuration
Control devices, identities, notifications and files; verify client, version and calling path. [1] [2]
Remaining unknowns
Current network behaviour, distributed binaries and forensic evidence remain incomplete; check version, OS and configuration. [1] [2]

Understand the terms

End-to-end encryption — E2EE

Participants’ devices control content keys. The transport server should not read ordinary messages. Learn more

Metadata

Data around the exchange: accounts, IP, timing, volume, devices or groups. Learn more

Pseudonymity

Use an identity different from your civil identity. It can still be linked to you. Learn more

Network anonymity

Reduce the ability to link traffic to your network address or its destination. Learn more

The detailed evidence is maintained in the French Phase 2 register. The translation is a restatement, not new evidence.