Can WiFi monitoring software track IRC messages? reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ralkia · 2018-10-22 23:29 Maybe a dumb question, but I googled to no avail. Is there any way someone could see my IRC messages being sent if I'm using a bugged wifi network? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- biscuit__ · 2018-10-22 23:35 This question is probably best directed to other communities, however more information would still be required: * What security does the network have? (e.g. none, WEP, WPA2) * What leaves you to believe your network could be compromised? * If the network is using security, who have you given your code to? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ralkia · 2018-10-22 23:43 I'm looking for relatively secure ways to be able to talk to my girlfriend, who was strongarmed into living with her very religious dad and stepmom. Her dad monitors the wifi, and has done things in the past like hiding tracking bugs in her purse and following her around in public. The network is a basic home WPA2 that has some sort of monitoring software on it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Al-Cachofa · 2018-10-22 23:48 If you are not using IRC with SSL, then yes it can be seen on the wire. Configure your (her) IRC client to use SSL. https://www.mirc.com/ssl.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2018-10-22 23:55 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- biscuit__ · 2018-10-22 23:56 the short answer is yes, with some difficulty. if you really want security and you feel confident, see about setting up your own vpn network using openvpn - I have one running on a raspberry pi, and I wouldn't use it continuously because its very slow and drains the battery on my phone a lot, but I can absolutely guarantee the security of it. edit: screwed up threading edit2: signal and telegram *may* provide the level of security you want, I'll do a little more research and try to get back to you. this is indeed an awful situation to be in edit3: signal messenger does exactly the thing you're looking for ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TheAmazingFailure · 2018-10-22 23:57 IRC is a plaintext protocol and can be sniffed. Connect with SSL and the traffic is encrypted. SSL is available on most IRC servers, usually port 6697 which is the standard. This won't defeat something like a keylogger or a man in the middle attack. If he's had access or is suspected to have access to her PC it may have a keylogger on it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ralkia · 2018-10-23 00:10 Thanks for the sympathy, I'll definitely look into that. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ralkia · 2018-10-23 00:13 She's primarily using IRC on her iPhone via an app called Igloo to connect atm, we factory reset the phone every week or so just to be sure. I'm not convinced but it is possible that she has something of that sort on her laptop, so we're staying away from it for now. She'll hopefully be moving out in a few months. It might sound sort of paranoid but trust me, it's not haha ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TheAmazingFailure · 2018-10-23 00:15 Go with [Signal](https://signal.org/) for secure chat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chloeia · 2018-10-23 06:10 For this scenario, I think you should use some other messaging software that has a focus on 1-to-1 chats. IRC is more of a collaboration thing, and isn't too focused on security/privacy. Check this out for a comparison: [https://www.reddit.com/r/opensource/comments/9nyj72/messenger\_system s\_compared\_by\_security\_privacy/](https://www.reddit.com/r/opensour ce/comments/9nyj72/messenger_systems_compared_by_security_privacy/) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ohjacobk · 2018-10-23 14:37 can she turn off wifi? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ralkia · 2018-10-23 15:22 Not always because she has extremely limited cellular data, as her birth mom who doesn't have much money pays for it. She's 17, and can't live on her own yet, nor get a job or a car because her dad won't allow it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Saber_UK · 2018-10-23 18:52 That level of control over someone who is almost an adult seems abusive. You should probably report that to someone if possible. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FragHunt · 2018-10-23 20:35 Set up a VPN client on her computer and phone. That will encrypt all data sent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ralkia · 2018-10-23 21:59 Unfortunately, people can get away with a lot if they have access to an expensive lawyer and are able to give off the impression that they're a stable/good person in public, when at home they're the exact opposite. I've been dating her for nearly 2 years now after being friends for her for a year before then. Her birth mom has been fighting for custody the whole time and hasn't really gotten anywhere.