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Is there any chat system where I can keep the logs protected (private). For example if I use gtalk (the Google's chat) then the chats are logged into their server. A good analogy is that if I use IRC programs like irssi then I can save the logs in my own system. But the chat happens in the public server. How can I chat to a couple of friends (not very geeky, so it must be easy for them to setup), with some respect to our privacy.
Should I go set up a server (some virtual private or dedicated one) to run an irc server just to chat? If so which is a better host? There are a lot of problem in setting up irc servers and private chat rooms, bots (otherwise the room will get lost), which is another suspect of DOS attacks and such sort of problems.
Is there any better way?

migrated from superuser.com Dec 7 '10 at 15:37

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Install a Jabber server such as ejabberd or Openfire.

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Akira's comment brings up a good point...that they can log also. If you are simply looking for a more private method you could set up an XMPP server and offer a tor hidden service if you want text messaging(the irc reference). Voice is more complicated because of latency. Then you are looking at something like Ignacio's answer. It still allows snooping at the ISP level though.

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you could use some kind of vpn-software (hamachi, teamviewer) to establish a secure p2p channel and then:

  • use whatever chat system you want that needs only the ip of the other participant
  • use builtin chat-features of hamachi or teamviewer, which are encrypted between the participants and not logged on the vpn-provider. you could also use openvpn to only create the secure link and then use whatever chat system you want :)
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another option is to use a jabber-client with encryption. any jabber server involved only sees random noise:

and others might support that as well.

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Why not try end-to-end encryption with one of the many popular chat clients? Then you could continue to use gTalk etc. but your chats would be encrypted and nobody except you and your chat buddies would be able to snoop.

Off-the-Record Messaging http://www.cypherpunks.ca/otr/software.php

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I believe GTalk has secure, non-logged chat available as 'Off the Record', from the web-ui it is available per chat window under Actions -> Go off the record. This uses ssl to encrypt the chats and prevents Google from logging them through the server. Depending on your local client you can either store the logs locally or not. Adium, Pidgin and the GTalk app for Android all have Off The Record support for Gmail.

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