In the realm of digital communication, security and privacy have become paramount concerns. Traditional messaging applications often fall short in providing robust protection, leaving users vulnerable to data breaches, unauthorized access, and surveillance. Purring Chat addresses these common issues through its proprietary BlockTransit Encryption Protocol (BTEP), a groundbreaking approach that ensures a secure and private communication platform without sacrificing convenience.
Introducing BlockTransit Encryption Protocol (BTEP)
Purring Chat’s innovative BlockTransit Encryption Protocol (BTEP), recognized with the Most Innovative Use of Waku award at the Ethereum Global Hackathon Istanbul 2023, sets a new standard for messaging app security. BTEP combines the privacy of End-to-End Encryption (E2EE), the robust security of blockchain technology, and the convenience of Encryption in Transit. This dual-layer encryption ensures that data remains secure both during transmission and while at rest.
How BTEP Works
The BTEP workflow is structured to ensure maximum security and privacy through the following stages:
- User Authentication:
- Connection: The sender connects to the Purring Chat app using their crypto wallet, which generates a unique public key for encryption purposes.
- Key Exchange:
- Invitation: The sender invites the receiver to join a conversation.
- Acceptance: The receiver accepts the invitation, initiating a secure key exchange process that facilitates encrypted communication between both parties.
- Message Encryption:
- Plain Text: The sender composes a message in plain text.
- Encryption Process: The message is then encrypted using the public key generated by the sender’s crypto wallet.
- Transmission:
- Encrypted Message: The encrypted message is transmitted to the server. Throughout this process, the message remains encrypted, ensuring that it is unreadable to unauthorized parties.
- Data Storage:
- Off-Chain Storage: For efficiency and scalability, encrypted message logs are stored using Firebase, while encrypted message data, including texts, videos, and images, are stored using IPFS (InterPlanetary File System). This hybrid storage solution enhances data availability and security by decentralizing storage and minimizing single points of failure.
- Message Reception and Decryption:
- Reception: The encrypted message is received by the recipient’s server.
- Decryption Process: The recipient, upon connecting to the app using their crypto wallet, uses their private key to decrypt the message.
- Plain Text: The decrypted message is then converted back to plain text for the recipient to read.
Illustrator I: The Workflow of BlockTransit Encryption Protocol (BTEP) in PURRING CHAT
Benefits of the BlockTransit Encryption Protocol (BTEP):
The BlockTransit Encryption Protocol (BTEP) offers numerous advantages that set Purring Chat apart in the realm of secure messaging. Here are the key benefits:
Here are the key benefits:
Enhanced Security:
- Blockchain-Level E2EE: The BTEP of Purring Chat employs advanced End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) by utilizing keys generated from an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) digital wallet, offering enhanced security compared to traditional E2EE. BTEP simplifies the encryption of all communication data—whether in one-to-one chats or group chats—including texts, videos, images, and message logs, by using the recipient’s public key. Only the intended recipient, who possesses the corresponding private key, can decrypt and access the message content.
- Extra layer of hacking resistance: This decentralized on-cloud storage approach offers several key benefits, such as:
Specialized Security Measures: Distinct security protocols are applied to each platform based on the nature of the stored data, ensuring tailored protection.
Improved Scalability: By storing encrypted logs and media content on different storage systems, we can reduce delay times and enhance scalability.
Avoiding Blockchain Gas Fees: By primarily utilizing centralized storage for dynamic data and decentralized storage for media content, Purring Chat minimizes the need for blockchain transactions, thereby avoiding high gas fees and reducing costs for users.
Reduced Blockchain Friction: The hybrid storage strategy ensures smooth and efficient data management, reducing friction and providing a seamless user experience without the typical delays and complexities associated with blockchain transactions.
No Single Point of Failure: This approach enhances security by eliminating single points of failure.
Security in Case of Breach: In the event of a security breach or if authorities gain access to either of the two storage systems, unauthorized parties would only obtain encrypted data. Deciphering this data would be extremely challenging, requiring the breach of the Ethereum network.
Alternative Storage Option: For an added layer of security, Purring Chat offers the option to store encrypted data on a blockchain such as Waku, a protocol specifically designed for enhanced security in decentralized messaging systems.
Privacy Protection: - Purring Chat employs a robust set of measures to safeguard user identities and ensure privacy, including:
- Crypto Wallet Integration: Users connect using encrypted cryptocurrency wallets, eliminating the need for emails or phone numbers and enhancing privacy.
- No PII Collection: Designed to avoid collecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII), ensuring user anonymity.
- Flexible User Identification: Users can choose pseudonymous usernames or opt to verify their profiles through an optional KYC process with our third-party provider. Verified users can earn more trust from other users, helping them grow their followers.
- Secure Web 2.0 Authentication: Web3Auth provides secure, decentralized authentication for Web 2.0 users, encrypting all information to prevent traceability.
- Comprehensive Data Encryption: All data, including messages, images, videos, and metadata, is encrypted before transmission and storage.
- Minimal Metadata Collection: Adheres to minimal metadata collection principles, with any collected data fully encrypted.
- Advanced Onion Routing: Plans to use onion routing for IP address protection, ensuring anonymous and untraceable online activities.
- No Data Selling Policy: Purring Chat does not sell user data to any third parties. The minimal data collected is used exclusively to enhance the user experience, ensuring the highest standards of user privacy and protection.
Purring Chat’s multi-layered security framework ensures that user identities and communications remain private and secure, setting a high standard for privacy in digital communications. - User Convenience: BTEP eliminates several trade-offs found in traditional chat apps, providing users with a more convenient and seamless experience:
- Effortless Data Management: Users no longer need to worry about data storage management, device space, or manual backups. Data is securely stored in the cloud, freeing up device resources and simplifying data management processes.
- Seamless Multi-Device Support: With BTEP, Purring Chat allows users to access their accounts across multiple devices without losing data or connectivity. BTEP ensures that users can use the same account on multiple devices simultaneously, providing a seamless and consistent experience.
- Automated Data Backup and Recovery: BTEP allows Purring Chat to provide full backup and recovery solutions, eliminating the burden of manual data management for users.
- Unlimited User Accounts: Users can create unlimited accounts using crypto wallets or social media accounts. This allows them to manage different communities easily, such as connecting with friends via Facebook or handling business communications via Gmail. Additionally, features like PurrVault require multiple Purring Chat accounts to securely store and manage crypto seed words in the cloud, enhancing security and privacy.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: With BTEP, Purring Chat facilitates seamless access across multiple platforms. Users can enjoy smooth and secure cross-chain and cross-platform communication between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 environments. This ensures a consistent and user-friendly experience across different systems and networks.
- Efficiency:
- Reduced Message Delays: Storing encrypted data in the cloud rather than on the blockchain mitigates delays associated with block confirmation times. This ensures faster access and retrieval of data, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.
- Cost Efficiency: Blockchain-based apps typically offer higher security due to their decentralized architecture, but users must bear the costs of gas fees. In contrast, server-based apps may offer lower security but are generally free for users as the service providers absorb the operational and security costs. By utilizing BTEP, Purring Chat can store encrypted data securely in the cloud with blockchain-level security without incurring blockchain gas fees for users, thereby reducing the operational costs associated with providing an additional level of security for the platform.
- Enhanced Scalability and Flexibility: Purring Chat’s decentralized architecture and the use of scalable storage solutions like Firebase and IPFS ensure the system can efficiently handle increasing user demands.
Regulatory Compliance: - Minimal Data Collection Policy: This simplifies compliance challenges. Since users’ PII is not required to use Purring Chat services, the platform inherently complies with privacy protection laws and regulations.
- Anti Data Breach: The architecture supports tailored compliance strategies by separating metadata from content data. This ensures that Purring Chat can adhere to various legal and regulatory requirements.
- No Data Selling Policy: Purring Chat does not sell user data to any third parties. The minimal data collected is used exclusively to enhance the user experience, ensuring the highest standards of user privacy and protection.
Expanded Opportunities: BTEP’s versatile encryption framework can be applied to a wide range of services beyond messaging, including: - End-to-End Encrypted (E2EE) emails
- Private cloud storage services
- Secure file sharing
- Decentralized applications (dApps)
- Secure collaboration tools
- IoT security
- Healthcare data management
- Financial services
Enterprise communication
Conclusion
The BlockTransit Encryption Protocol (BTEP) represents a revolutionary advancement in secure communication technology. By integrating advanced encryption mechanisms with decentralized storage solutions, Purring Chat ensures unparalleled security, privacy, and convenience for its users. BTEP sets a new standard for messaging app security, offering a comprehensive solution that addresses the common issues found in traditional messaging applications. With Purring Chat, users can communicate with confidence, knowing that their data is secure and their privacy is protected.
