India has blocked 14 cellular messenger apps apparently being utilized by terrorist teams in Jammu and Kashmir to speak with folks in Pakistan.

The blocked apps are Crypviser, Enigma, Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second Line, Zangi, and Threema. These would not have representatives in India and are closely encrypted, in accordance with intelligence companies, News18 reported today (May 1).

Most of those apps are specifically designed to take care of customers’ anonymity. They have been allegedly utilized by folks related to varied terrorist organizations.

For occasion, members of the Hizbul Mujahideen and The Resistance Front, backed by Pakistan, have been noticed utilizing Nandbox Messenger, a Canadian app, the News18 report stated.

The rise of alternate messaging apps in India

After the Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp up to date its privacy policy in 2021, Indian customers rushed to alternate options like Telegram and Signal. This additionally gave a fillip to Wickr, Briar, and others.

Some of those apps don’t require the web or servers, making them best to make use of in areas like Jammu and Kashmir which face frequent internet shutdowns.

Briar Messenger, developed by Europe-based professionals, is one such.

“Briar is a messaging app designed for activists, journalists, and anyone else who needs a safe, easy and robust way to communicate,” the company website states. “Unlike traditional messaging apps, Briar doesn’t rely on a central server—messages are synchronized directly between the users’ devices.”

Some apps are free-to-use. But all of them largely have a strict coverage masking consumer privateness—the one factor that facilitates hassle-free communication amongst terrorists.

“Wickr’s security architecture and proprietary encryption methodology are designed to ensure that only users can gain access to their message content. Users’ content is encrypted locally on their device and is accessible only to intended recipients,” Chris Howell, co-founder and CTO of the US-based platform Wickr told Forbes India.