FAQ

Do I need a phone number or email?

No. There is no registration, no profile, no username. Your identity is a cryptographic keypair generated and stored only on your device. You share it with a contact when you decide — ideally by scanning a QR code in person.

What does “your key is anything” mean?

A conversation key can be a password, any file you both have (a PDF, a photo, an MP3), a link, or a Shamir split across several files. It is hashed locally and never transmitted. Whoever holds the same key can read; everyone else sees a locked block.

What can the server see?

Almost nothing. The relay is deaf: it stores opaque encrypted blocks and timestamps, plus one-time invite tokens as hashes only. No senders, no recipients, no key hints, no contact lists — that information never reaches it. Seized, it reveals noise.

How does Tor fit in?

You can reach the network over Tor v3 (the server never learns your IP or location), over Tor bridges where Tor itself is blocked, or over a standard connection when hiding your location isn’t the point. The app states plainly what each mode reveals — the choice is yours.

What happens if I lose my key?

It’s gone — and so are those messages. Keys and decryption exist only on your device; there is no account and no administrative override, so we cannot recover them even if asked. That’s the point. Back up your keys.

Is it really private if you operate the server?

The design assumes the operator can be compromised. That’s why access is decided purely by who holds the key, why the server stores only ciphertext, and why Tor hides where you are. We tell you exactly where each protection ends — see the whitepaper.

When is the app available?

YGOOW for Android is on its way. Follow the blog for progress.