In order to facilitate some of our projects and collaborations we realized that a chat network of some kind would be helpful.

Instead of using IRC, we turned to silc. SILC is a secure protocol that allows for private text-based communication in a group chat-room style context.

Our SILC network consists of three servers, one in the US, two in Canada (resist.ca; tao.ca). This allows users of any of those activist servers to participate in private secure conversations.

If you are interested in using our silc network for your group, contact us at requests @ interactivist.net.

Chat protocols are very popular on the Internet. They have actually been very popular since the very first chat protocols appeared on the net. The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) was one of the first chat protocols, and quickly gained the status of being the most popular chat on the net. Today, IRC has several competitors from various other so-called Instant Messaging (IM) protocols, such as ICQ. However, all of these different chat protocols have something in common; they are all insecure.

Security is an important feature in applications and protocols in contemporary network environment. The older chat protocols, however have failed to meet the growing security requirements on the Internet. It is not anymore enough to just provide services, like for example chat services. Now, they need to be secure services.

The Secure Internet Live Conferencing (SILC) protocol is a new-generation chat protocol which provides full featured conferencing services, just like any other contemporary chat protocol provides. In addition, it provides security by encrypting and authenticating the messages in the network. Security has been the primary goal of the SILC protocol and the protocol has been designed from day one with security in mind. All packets and messages traveling in the SILC Network are always encrypted and authenticated. The network topology is also different from for example IRC network. The SILC network topology attempts to be more powerful and scalable than the IRC network. The basic purpose of the SILC protocol is to provide secure conferencing services.

The SILC Protocol has been developed as an Open Source project. The protocol specifications are freely available and they have been submitted to the IETF. The protocol is currently stabilizing and has reached a version 1.2.

Beginners Guide
Our own guide to getting started in SILC, with descriptions of the commands we use most often.

Silc FAQ
http://www.silcnet.org/support/faq/client/

Technical Details of SILC
http://www.silcnet.org/support/documentation/wp/silc_protocol.php