FAQ -- Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I encrypt my instant messagaes?
Because they are sent from you to the other chatter in plain text. This means anyone on the internet between you and them can (if they so desire) read your instant message conversation.

What encryption method do you use?
We use a 64-bit RSA key exchange to exchange your blowfish key. The blowfish encryption is 448-bit.

Are there any backdoors in encrypted messenger?
No, if you would like to view the source code for the encryption alogrythms, contact us. However we used publicly available alogrythms. See http://www.counterpane.com/blowfish-download.html for example source of Blowfish Encrypion.

What is the windows.xml?
The Windows.xml file is the file which describes how to interact with each client.

How do you modify the Windows.xml file?
You can use notepad. Feel free to play around with it. Just make sure you back it up. :) If you have a program you want added, and we can do it easily using the Windows.xml, we will include it and make it available via the Check for Updates option.

How do you use Encrypted Messenger
You can view Old Quickstart Tutorial. Or simply click enable encryption and start typing.

Detailed instructions for each button in Encrypted Messenger 3?
Enable Encryption - If this is checked, This will allow you to send encrypted messages. It will be disabled if you continue using Encrypted Messenger after the 15 day trial period. However if you receive an encrypted message, you will be able to send encrypted messages until you turn it off.
Send - Click this and it will encrypt the text in the Send box of your chat program and then send it.
Standard/Advance/Elite - These choose what version of encrypted messenger you are viewing.
Send File - This allows you to send any file via our http passthrough service. The file is encrypted and uploaded via http upload (this gets aroudn firewalls, etc.). Then the other person can download the file and decrypt it. (We can not view the files you send because they are encrypted. They are purged from our server.
Cancel Send - This stops a file send.
Accept File - This allows you to accept a sent file (You can not accept or send files after the 15 day period has expired).
Decline File - This allows you to refuse a file sent to you.
Progress - This is used to show the progress of encryption of a file and uploading or downloading of an encrypted file.
About - Display information about Encrypted Messenger
Distribute - Display information about where to download Encrypted Messenger
Help - Display information about how to get help for encrypted messenger.

Secure Random Key Exchange - This generates a random password (key) (based on a guid), unlocks your password and then begins a RSA key exchange to ensure that both chatters have the same password.
Screen Shot - This copies your current screen to a png format graphics file and sends the file encrypted to the other chatter.
Your agreed upon password - This is the password both you and the person you are chatting with are using. (If they do not match then you will not be able to read each other's encrypted messages)
Lock Password - If this is checked then you will not participate in a key exchange. You must have this unlocked to participate in a key exchange.
hide Password - This makes your password a bunch of (*)'sd so no one can read it over your shoulder.
Save Password - This saves your password (if you have a particular password you like) so that you dont have to retype or exchange keys each time you start talking to your friend.

Open All Received Files - If this is checked Encrypted Messenger will attempt to open all files you receive with their default program.
Only Open These Files - If this is checked then only files with the specified extensions will be opened using their default program.

Capture Return For Sending - If this is checked, (and Enable Encryption is checked and you have a chat window in focus) then it will capture the enter key and use that to determinie whethor to encrypt and send the message in the chat client send window. If you do not have it checked, then you sil lneed to click the Send button on Encrypted Messenger to send the message encrypted.

Wrap decrypted text in these - These will wrapped around decrypted text so you can easily tell the difference.
Random Password - This generates a random password (based on a guid) and sets your password to it.
Syncronize Passwords - This begins a key exchange with the person you are chatting with so that you can both have the same password/key without revelaing it over plain text.

How can I contact someone via IM?
Microsoft: the_citizen@hotmail.com
Yahoo: john_hasson
AOL/AIM: johnhasson23
Other IM Programs: We have accounts for them, but rarely actively use them. Your best bet is Microsoft or Yahoo Messenger.

How can I contact someone via email?
support@johnytech.com

How can I contact someone via telephone?
281-300-3984