---
title: >-
  Encrypted VoIP that works
date: 2014-02-17 22:56
modified: 2014-02-17 22:56
lang: en
authors: rysiek
tags:
 - ancient
 - privacy
 - e2ee
status: published
pinned: false
---

Some of you might have already noticed (for example via [my Diaspora profile](http://joindiaspora.com/u/rysiek)) my infatuation with [RetroShare](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RetroShare). A very interesting communication and file-sharing tool that does deserve a proper, full review -- for which I do not, unfortunately, have time.

There are some good things (full [peer-to-peer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer-to-peer) decentralisation, full encryption), there are some less good things ([using SHA1](https://cpunks.org//pipermail/cypherpunks/2013-November/002169.html) and the daunting GUI). But today RetroShare really shined, and in an area that is [constantly a chore](https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/skype-replacement-projects) for free software...

## [VoIP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VoIP)

Now, I know there are many free software projects trying to do VoIP, but none seems to be "there" yet. [SIP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol) is hard to set-up; [Jitsi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jitsi) works on a single server but for some reason I have never been able to get a working VoIP call via Jitsi with a contact from a different server. One project that was closest to being usable was [QuteCom](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuteCom)... "was", as there hasn't been a single new release for 2 years now.

Enter RetroShare.

Just [download the software](http://retroshare.sourceforge.net/downloads.html), install it and have the keys generated (that happens automagically), and download the VoIP plugin if you don't have it already included (chances are, you have; if not, on Linux `retroshare-voip-plugin` package is your friend, the other OS users can look [here](http://sourceforge.net/projects/retroshare/files/Plugins/VoIP%205.3.5605/)).

Now add a friend, start a chat and *voilà*, VoIP works. No account on any server needed, no trusting a third party, works behind [NATs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAT) (tested!). And [is already encrypted](http://sourceforge.net/p/retroshare/feature-requests/106/), so no one can listen-in on your communication.

The amazing part? During testing my lappy suspended to ram. After waking up a few minutes later the call worked as if nothing happened.