Use Cases
How Do Journalists Protect Their Sources?
Quick Answer
Journalists protect sources by using encrypted, anonymous communication channels that create no records. zkChat's ephemeral rooms and one-time messages leave no trace.
Detailed Explanation
Source protection is a fundamental journalistic principle. The biggest threats are: communication metadata revealing the source's identity, stored messages being subpoenaed, and digital forensics recovering deleted conversations. Journalists should: (1) Use communication tools that require no identity — zkChat needs no account. (2) Avoid metadata collection — zkChat logs nothing. (3) Use ephemeral channels that auto-destroy — zkChat rooms self-destruct. (4) For initial tips, use one-time messages that self-destruct after reading. (5) Never communicate on the source's work devices or networks. (6) Use Tor or VPN for additional network anonymity. Unlike Signal (which requires a phone number), zkChat creates zero digital trail.
Related Questions
How Do Whistleblowers Communicate Safely?
Whistleblowers should use anonymous, ephemeral communication channels with no identity requirements and no metadata collection — like zkChat's one-time messages or encrypted rooms.
What Is Metadata and Why Does It Matter?
Metadata is data about your communications — who you talked to, when, how often, from where. It can reveal your relationships, habits, and activities even without reading message content.
How Does Encryption Protect Your Messages?
End-to-end encryption like AES-256-GCM ensures only the intended recipients can read your messages. The service provider never has the decryption keys — making your communication private by design.
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