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Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat Debuts on iOS, Faces Connectivity and Security Flaws

A patch for iOS-Android messaging is pending Apple’s approval; the Android version stays on GitHub as imitation apps spread on Google Play.

Overview

  • Bitchat is now available on Apple’s App Store, with the Android build accessible only through GitHub ahead of a formal Play Store release.
  • Users have encountered a bug preventing messages between iOS and Android devices, and Jack Dorsey says a fix has been submitted for Apple’s review.
  • Security researcher Alex Radocea identified impersonation vulnerabilities in Bitchat’s protocol, and Dorsey acknowledged there has been no external audit.
  • The open-source app enables end-to-end encrypted, accountless peer-to-peer messaging via Bluetooth mesh networks without requiring internet access.
  • Several fake Bitchat apps have appeared on Google Play, prompting warnings for Android users to download only from the official GitHub repository.