Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Why doesn't someone just built a Tor hidden service that is an interface to the Twilio (or similar) API? Sign up with Bitcoin, get a phone number and then send/receive SMS and send/receive calls using DAP/getUserMedia (html5 mic + audio) in a web browser.

Using a physical cell phone still leaves a trace of the purchase, shipping, physical call location, cell site pings, etc. Plus in a lot of jurisdictions it is now a legal requirement to verify identity and adress with issuing phone numbers.

Using a Tor hidden service (+VPN, etc.) I could be anybody anywhere in the world. Less bits figured out.

edit: apologies if this is hijacking the thread




Twilio even has an in-browser VoIP client: http://www.twilio.com/client


Latency would make voice impractical.


In this case, wouldn't it be acceptable? I mean, if we stay in the context of a burner and security is the main feature, would it matter so much if it was like basically talking on a half-duplex voice call? Again, if the main goal is security and anonymity, would it matter so much if the conversation wasn't as fluid as a 'regular' call?


TorFone estimates 3-4 seconds of latency. Usable, but not practical.


Maybe make it walkie-talkie style, like those old Nextel phones?


Like others have said, voice would be impractical over Tor or VPN. Text would be better. The thing that most comes to mind is DeadDrop http://deaddrop.github.io/.


It doesn't seem as though Twilio accepts Bitcoins. In this case, would it be that whoever is running the Tor hidden service would have to purchase the account themselves and their reimbursement would be BTC?




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: