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Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Indian Express
I used Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app with no Wi-Fi or mobile data
A few weeks ago, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey launched Bitchat, an instant messaging app that works without internet. The app, which was developed in just over a weekend, uses Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi or mobile data to send and receive messages. It is now available for download on the iOS App Store, with an Android version posted on GitHub. I tried the Android version of Bitchat, and here's how the app differs from popular instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. But before we dive into the app, here's a glimpse of how Bitchat works. Like Jack Dorsey's Bluesky, Bitchat also happens to be a decentralised platform, meaning there are no central servers where data is stored. The app works using peer-to-peer network technology, which means it directly sends messages from one device to another, with every device on the network acting as a node in itself. Also, messages sent over Bitchat are stored in the app itself and disappear after a while. When people physically move from one place to another, they constantly join and leave what are called 'Bluetooth clusters'. The range of the app also depends on the number of users connected, meaning it will have a wider range if there are a lot of people using it. Since Bluetooth has a pretty short range, the app only works at a range of around 100 meters. But as the number of people in Bluetooth clusters increases, Bitchat can theoretically relay messages up to 300 meters. To overcome Bluetooth's limitations of short range and slow speed, Dorsey says he plans to add support for Wi-Fi Direct in a future update. Note: There are several fake versions of Bithat packed with ads and malware available on the Google Play Store, and none of them are real. At the time of writing, the app's Android version can only be downloaded from GitHub. Like Bridgefy, the app used by protestors worldwide, Bitchat allows users to send instant messages to one another even if there is no internet or network. This is really useful in areas where internet connectivity is restricted or the network is patchy. For example, you can quickly text your friends or family when travelling in a train or aeroplane if your seats are not nearby. Another use case is that Bitchat can also come in handy in crowded areas, where internet is slow. Bitchat's user interface is pretty bare bones and reminded me of the Internet Relay Chat, or IRC for short, a text-based app that popularised instant messaging back in the 1990s when the internet was still in its infancy. The app has a single window and is pretty straightforward to use. The Android version currently has no options, but you can tap on the top right icon to see how many people are connected. Text messages sent using Bitchat are pretty fast, and I barely noticed any lag or delay when talking to the other person. The main window is the place for public chats, meaning everyone using the app in an area will be able to see your messages. There is also a private chat mode, which can be accessed by tapping on the same top right icon, after which you will have to click on the person's name to start the conversation. Another great thing about Bitchat is that it comes with a 'panic mode', which instantly deletes all messages in the conversation. This can be triggered by triple-tapping the Bitchat icon on the top. As of now, you can only send text messages, which are end-to-end encrypted like WhatsApp, which means no one other than the sender and the receiver can read them. Despite being in early stages, Bitchat does work as advertised. The range is pretty limited, and I was disconnected when trying to talk to the other person from a distance, but this is expected since it uses Bluetooth. Bitchat won't replace popular instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram; however, I felt like this is a more secure way to talk to someone nearby, as the app automatically clears chats after a while. Also, you won't have to worry about your mobile data limits or Wi-Fi range. All in all, this is a really good way to communicate with one another over short distances, but I hope Dorsey soon adds Wi-Fi support to extend the range over which I can chat with someone. Anurag Chawake is a Senior Sub-Editor at His fascination with technology and computers goes back to the days of Windows 98. Since then, he has been tinkering with various operating systems, mobile phones, and other things. Anurag usually writes on a wide range of topics including Android, gaming, and PC hardware among other things related to consumer tech. His Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn user name is antechx. ... Read More
CNET
29-07-2025
- CNET
The Tea App Data Breach: What Was Exposed and What We Know About the Class Action Lawsuit
Tea, a women's dating safety app that surged to the top of the free iOS App Store listings, suffered a major security breach last week. The company confirmed Friday that it "identified authorized access to one of our systems" that exposed thousands of user images. And now we know that DMs were accessed during the breach, too. Tea's preliminary findings from the end of last week showed the data breach exposed approximately 72,000 images: 13,000 images of selfies and photo identification that people had submitted during account verification, and 59,000 images that were publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments and direct messages. Those images had been stored in a "legacy data system" that contained information from more than two years ago, the company said in statement. "At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that current or additional user data was affected." Earlier Friday, posts on Reddit and 404 Media reported that Tea app users' faces and IDs had been posted on anonymous online message board 4chan. Tea requires users to verify their identities with selfies or IDs, which is why driver's licenses and pictures of people's faces are in the leaked data. And on Monday, a Tea spokesperson confirmed to CNET that it additionally "recently learned that some direct messages (DMs) were accessed as part of the initial incident." Tea has also taken the affected system offline. That confirmation followed a report by 404 Media on Monday that an independent security researcher discovered it would have been possible for hackers to gain access to DMs between Tea users, affecting messages sent up to last week on the Tea app. Tea said it has launched a full investigation to assess the scope and impact of the breach. Class action lawsuit filed One of the users of the Tea app, Griselda Reyes, has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of herself and other Tea users affected by the data breach. According to court documents filed on July 28, as reported earlier by 404 Media, Reyes is suing Tea over its alleged "failure to properly secure and safeguard ... personally identifiable information." "Shortly after the data breach was announced, internet users claimed to have mapped the locations of Tea's users based on metadata contained from the leaked images," the complaint alleges. "Thus, instead of empowering women, Tea has actually put them at risk of serious harm." Tea also has yet to notify its customers personally about their data being breached, the complaint alleges. The complaint is seeking class action status, damages for those affected "in an amount to be determined" and certain requirements for Tea to improve its data storage and handling practices. Scott Edward Cole of Cole & Van Note, the law firm representing Reyes, told CNET he is "stunned" by the alleged lack of security protections in place. "This application was advertised as a safe place for women to share information, sometimes very intimate information, about their dating experiences. Few people would take that risk if they'd known Tea Dating put such little effort into its cybersecurity," Cole alleged. "One chief goal of our lawsuit is to compel the company to start taking user privacy a lot more seriously." Tea did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the class action lawsuit. What is the Tea app? The premise of Tea is to provide women with a space to report negative interactions they've had while encountering men in the dating pool, with the intention of keeping other women safe. The app is currently sitting at the No. 2 spot for free apps on Apple's US App Store, right after ChatGPT, drawing international attention and sparking a debate about whether the app violates men's privacy. Following the news of the data breach, it also plays into the wider ongoing debate around whether online identity and age verification pose an inherent security risk to internet users. In the privacy section on its website, Tea says: "Tea Dating Advice takes reasonable security measures to protect your Personal Information to prevent loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. Please be aware, however, that despite our efforts, no security measures are impenetrable."
CNET
29-07-2025
- CNET
The Tea App Data Breach: What Was Exposed and What to Know About the Class Action Lawsuit
Tea, a women's safety dating app that surged to the top of the free iOS App Store listings, suffered a major security breach last week. The company confirmed Friday that it "identified authorized access to one of our systems" that exposed thousands of user images. And now we know that DMs were accessed during the breach, too. Tea's preliminary findings from the end of last week showed the data breach exposed approximately 72,000 images: 13,000 images of selfies and photo identification that people had submitted during account verification, and 59,000 images that were publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments and direct messages. Those images had been stored in a "legacy data system" that contained information from more than two years ago, the company said in statement. "At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that current or additional user data was affected." Earlier Friday, posts on Reddit and 404 Media reported that Tea app users' faces and IDs had been posted on anonymous online message board 4chan. Tea requires users to verify their identities with selfies or IDs, which is why driver's licenses and pictures of people's faces are in the leaked data. And on Monday, a Tea spokesperson confirmed to CNET that it additionally "recently learned that some direct messages (DMs) were accessed as part of the initial incident." Tea has also taken the affected system offline. That confirmation followed a report by 404 Media on Monday that an independent security researcher discovered it would have been possible for hackers to gain access to DMs between Tea users, affecting messages sent up to last week on the Tea app. Tea said it has launched a full investigation to assess the scope and impact of the breach. Class action lawsuit filed One of the users of the Tea app, Griselda Reyes, has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of herself and other Tea users affected by the data breach. According to court documents filed on July 28, as reported earlier by 404 Media, Reyes is suing Tea over its alleged "failure to properly secure and safeguard ... personally identifiable information." "Shortly after the data breach was announced, internet users claimed to have mapped the locations of Tea's users based on metadata contained from the leaked images," the complaint alleges. "Thus, instead of empowering women, Tea has actually put them at risk of serious harm." Tea also has yet to notify its customers personally about their data being breached, the complaint alleges. The complaint is seeking class action status, damages for those affected "in an amount to be determined" and certain requirements for Tea to improve its data storage and handling practices. Tea and Cole & Van Note, the law firm representing Reyes, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the class action lawsuit. What is Tea? The premise of Tea is to provide women with a space to report negative interactions they've had while encountering men in the dating pool, with the intention of keeping other women safe. The app is currently sitting at the No. 2 spot for free apps on Apple's US App Store, right after ChatGPT, drawing international attention and sparking a debate about whether the app violates men's privacy. Following the news of the data breach, it also plays into the wider ongoing debate around whether online identity and age verification pose an inherent security risk to internet users. In the privacy section on its website, Tea says: "Tea Dating Advice takes reasonable security measures to protect your Personal Information to prevent loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. Please be aware, however, that despite our efforts, no security measures are impenetrable."
CNET
29-07-2025
- CNET
The Tea App Data Breach: What Happened, and What Was Exposed
Tea, a women's safety dating app that surged to the top of the free iOS App Store listings, suffered a major security breach last week. The company confirmed Friday that it "identified authorized access to one of our systems" that exposed thousands of user images. And now, we know that DMs were accessed during the breach, too. Tea's preliminary findings from the end of last week showed the data breach exposed approximately 72,000 images: 13,000 images of selfies and photo identification that people had submitted during account verification, and 59,000 images that were publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments and direct messages. Those images had been stored in a "legacy data system" that contained information from more than two years ago, the company said in statement. "At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that current or additional user data was affected." Earlier Friday, posts on Reddit and 404 Media reported that Tea app users' faces and IDs had been posted on anonymous online message board 4chan. Tea requires users to verify their identities with selfies or IDs, which is why driver's licenses and pictures of people's faces are in the leaked data. And on Monday, a Tea spokesperson confirmed to CNET that it additionally "recently learned that some direct messages (DMs) were accessed as part of the initial incident." Tea has also taken that affected system offline. That confirmation followed a report by 404 Media on Monday that an independent security researcher discovered it would have been possible for hackers to gain access to DMs between Tea users, affecting messages sent up to last week on the Tea app. Tea said it has launched a full investigation to assess the scope and impact of the breach. What is Tea? The premise of Tea is to provide women with a space to report negative interactions they've had while encountering men in the dating pool, purportedly to keep other women safe. The app is currently sitting at the No. 2 spot for free apps on Apple's US App Store, right after ChatGPT, drawing international attention and sparking a debate about whether the app violates men's privacy. Following the news of the data breach, it also plays into the wider ongoing debate around whether online identity and age verification pose an inherent security risk to internet users. In the privacy section on its website, Tea says: "Tea Dating Advice takes reasonable security measures to protect your Personal Information to prevent loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. Please be aware, however, that despite our efforts, no security measures are impenetrable."
India Today
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Tea Dating Advice is women-only and it is making men mad: Here is everything you need to know about Tea app
Dating apps are one key characteristic of the time we live in. They all promise users a shot at finding their perfect match. And they typically offer a digital showcase of potential singles or even married people who are looking for love outside the marriage. But dating is a contested scene, with lots of drama and emotions running high. The dating apps are also places where what is real and what is not, who is fake and who is not, is often not clear. Now, there is an app that aims to solve this problem, at least for women, and it is Tea Dating Advice. In no time, the app has become darling of women, while men are fuming at it, calling it a breach of idea behind Tea Advice App, which is rising in download charts and is already No 1 app in the iOS App Store, is simple: it promises to help women date more safely. And how? By letting women spill the 'tea' about men. But, as you can guess, it is making men is this Tea app?They say women love gossip, and the Tea app allows its women users to do exactly the same. And talking of women users, the app is ONLY open to women. Once someone is part of the Tea network — the bills itself as a sort of sisterhood — it allows women to review men: they can talk about them, rate them, and warn others. Essentially, it aims to help women make informed decisions based on experiences shared by fellow users. The app claims to help women avoid red flags in modern dating, where people often fail to truly know someone's identity, background, or intentions even after dating them for a while. The Tea app is currently topping the App Store charts in the US. It is available for downloading in India, although it might lack the kind of public data about men that it has access to in the US through various government Tea isn't some new app. It was actually launched in 2023 by San Francisco-based entrepreneur Sean Cook, a former executive at Salesforce and Shutterfly. Yes, the app 'for women' was created by a man. Interestingly, Cook was inspired by his own mother's dating experience. She was catfished and unknowingly dated men with criminal records. That disturbing reality sparked the idea in Cook's mind to create a platform where women could talk about potential partners before it's too late. About section of the Tea Dating Advice The app is exclusively for women and allows users to post anonymous reviews of men, including their photos, first names, approximate ages, and locations. Think Yelp, but for dating. Or Glassdoor. But again for dating. Women can flag red or green signals and leave commentary based on their app says its core mission is dating safety for women and it also backs it up with a suite of features in the app that includes:– Background checks– Reverse image searches (to catch catfishers)– Phone number lookups– A women-only forum for advice, support, and unfiltered storiesTo protect user privacy, the Tea app also blocks screenshots. Try to take one, and the user will get a black screen. It also claims to donate 10 per cent of its profits to the National Domestic Violence women are loving the Tea AppIt's an app designed to help women date safely. At least, that's what the app description says. And the surge in popularity of this app has largely been driven by word of mouth and viral posts on social media. Many women are sharing their stories on TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram about how Tea helped them spot serious red flags in men. From discovering a date was on the sex offender registry to finding out he had a history of domestic violence, women are calling the app their lifesaver.'From the very little I've heard about it, it lets women anonymously share with each other if they encounter red flags when dating men. It could help save women from abuse, stalking, or worse,' wrote one Reddit for them. Any step towards ensuring women are safe—like Uber's option to request a female driver—I'm all for it,' said even praised the app for helping her stay away from a toxic ex and for allowing her to warn others about him. 'I think this app will save lives. If even one of the girls he's (her ex) swiping on sees him on Tea and listens to my warning, then what I went through feels worth it. Download and share this app—not just for you, but for your sister or your friend. Woman to woman, protect each other.'But not everyone is happyNot all women are convinced, and the app has certainly triggered backlash, particularly from men. For many women, Tea looks like an empowering tool. But for many, it feels like a trial of men on social media. Being talked about, having photos of men shared without consent, and being judged by millions, with no way to defend themselves or even be notified. Some have even raised concerns about the app's potential to allow some users to make false allegations and character app needs to be shut down. Too many clowns hiding under it to lie and ruin people's names,' one Reddit user wrote.'If a men's version of this existed, women and the mainstream media would be up in arms,' said another, pointing to a perceived gender Tea isn't the first attempt at creating a review system for romantic partners. Facebook groups like 'Are We Dating the Same Guy?' have been around since 2022. Before that, apps like Lulu tried and failed to create similar platforms. But Tea may have hit the right formula at just the right cultural users say it's less about safety and more about gossip, just digitised and globalised. 'This is just taking what women have always done—talking about men—and putting it online,' one Reddit user the app is getting all the hype right now, it remains to be seen how it'll be perceived in the long run. And whether it can handle the concerns around privacy, false allegations, and fairness that some men seem to be demanding on social media rather loudly.- Ends
