[bestbits] Programme for Best Bits annual meeting

[Jeremy Malcolm]

On 22/08/2013, at 10:02 PM, Marianne Franklin <m.i.franklin at gold.ac.uk> wrote:

> Re. hosting of chat rooms to avoid Skype and also to work on alternatives in principle, and other online spaces. I think there needs to be some thought about setting up with an individual. What happens if that person withdraws good will, moves on or has to close these services?
> 
> Just a thought. Passwords can disappear, domain ownership can become murky and so on. And all this is alongside whether we need to be waterproof in a world that is now totally porous!

In case anyone is confused by this, it continues a discussion raised in the steering committee.  So I'll just copy and paste below from my email there, to provide the context for the above.  And in answer to Marianne's question, the offer of Robert Guerra's server was just for our testing purposes.  I can and will set up a permanent bestbits.net Mumble server if we decide that we like it.

> From: Jeremy Malcolm <jeremy at ciroap.org>
> Subject: Walking the walk: Mumble
> Date: 20 August 2013 10:01:47 PM NZST
> To: "steering at lists.bestbits.net" <steering at lists.bestbits.net>
> 
> One of my pet peeves is the extent to which civil society groups continue to patronise the same networks and applications that we know are subject to unlawful surveillance programmes.
> 
> This came up in conversation with Robert Guerra, when I had a call scheduled with him and mentioned that I didn't like using Skype.  He was of the same mind, and said that he had been using an open source, cross-platform encrypted group chat software called Mumble.  I had heard of Mumble before but hadn't actually used it.
> 
> Well, the call went very well and I was sufficiently impressed that Robert offered to set up a group chat room for us to use for Best Bits.  I'd like to encourage any of you to try it.  Whilst I can't do a group call in the near future due to travel, you can connect individually with any friends or colleagues you like, and try it out.
> 
> If we decide we really like it, I can set up a Mumble server of our own (which is very simple to do).  But for now we have Robert's for testing.
> 
> Instructions:
> Download Mumble for your platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android are all supported.  See http://mumble.sourceforge.net/.
> Run it and run the Certificate wizard, to make sure your calls will be encrypted (you can also import an existing S/MIME certificate, if you're a geek).
> Add a new server to connect to: Label can be anything, Address should be vpn.priveterra.info, Port doesn't need to be changed, and Username can be anything.
> The first time you connect you'll be asked to accept Robert's certificate: do that.
> Join the "Best Bits" channel and start talking.
> Hope someone will be able to try it.  I'd be interested in your feedback!

-- 
Dr Jeremy Malcolm
Senior Policy Officer
Consumers International | the global campaigning voice for consumers
Office for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East
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