Tool for journalists: Wire, for safely sending and receiving sensitive material

Credit: Image from Pixabay

What is it? A secure messaging app to send private content and make encrypted calls.

Cost: Free

Devices: iOS/Android. Also available on MacOS, Windows and Linux.

How is it of help to journalists?

Security is of utmost importance to digital journalists, especially when sending and receiving sensitive material and private phone calls.

Free messaging app Wire has end-to-end encryption, designed to ensure chats including pictures, videos, text and audio notes remain private and secure.

Enable fingerprint verification if you intend to use the app on multiple devices or send sensitive material to people that you don't want getting into the wrong hands.

Journalists can log in to the same account on multiple devices and keep conversations in sync between them. This allows journalists to give their editors access to their conversations using another device, and delete the app from their phone if they need to, without losing the stored material.

Create an account with your email and phone number to get started, uploading a profile picture if you wish. You'll need to verify your information via your email account.

When your phone contacts download the app and connect with you via your username, you'll be able to start encrypted conversations with them by tapping the circular plus button at the bottom right of the homepage.

You can even control how long others see the media you're sending, and delete messages from all devices should you post it to the wrong chat or change your mind.

You can create secure group conversations with your colleagues in the newsroom or with sources, and hold group calls with up to 10 people.

Record audio notes or capture images and video within the conversation, or simply tap the paper clip button to access files on your mobile device.

Encrypted messages will be stored on the app until it is uninstalled.

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