ChatBarrier X410.4.1

Name: ChatBarrier X4
Price: 39.96 $
Rating: 1.1875 (5 reviews)

10 October 2006

Adds live chat and encryption to iChat.

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Overview

ChatBarrier X4 is a utility for iChat that expands iChat's features to allow 2-way live text messaging and real-time 512-bit encryption of the message between two parties. Features include:

Encrypts text and audio chats, as well as file transfers sent via iChat
Encrypts outgoing iChat messages using industry-standard encryption algorithms.
Decrypts incoming messages sent to you by another ChatBarrier X4 user.
Encrypts and decrypts messages on the fly and instantaneously.
Only decrypts messages if the intended user receives them.
Encrypted messages are indicated by a padlock background in the message window and a padlock icon at the bottom of the window.
ChatBarrierX4 encrypts and decrypts messages without any user intervention.

What's new in ChatBarrier X4

Version 10.4.1:

Encrypted video chats (Mac OS X 10.4 and later)
Minor bug fixes

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11 Reviews of ChatBarrier X4

why to buy this if apple implements it in the next ichat version (http://www.unsanity.org/archives/000250.php)

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yep, download link isn't working - very annoying. :x you can get ChatBarrier X3 from this link: http://www.integodownload.com/en/chbx.html

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Overpriced and buggy. This is the current status of ChatBarrier. Other applications from Intego with what I believe would have much more complexity have worked much better for me over the last few years. For some reason this one does not quite cut the cake yet. I would wait for a few more releases before taking the plunge. Maybe the bugs will be worked out in the future. The Review King

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With Tiger just around the corner, why even waste one's time with this as there is to be an improved iChat? Having been burned by NetBarrier in the past, I can tell you that they will not be ready for Tiger with this app and you will be waiting until the cows come home for an update--an update they will probably charge you for (they are notorious for doing just that). But even more so is why there is even an need for encryption over an IM app is beyond me for if you truly have something secretive to say you wouldn't be using an IM to say it.

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Millitary grade 512 bit encryption? What cipher are they using? How are keys generated and distributed, how are they kept secret? The product is worthless without this information. Then again would you ever want to trust closed source encryption?

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Show comment (1)

$40! You have to be kidding me! Even if I was fool enough to pay $40 for this, there would have to be enough other idiots out there for it to work with. I don't know enough idiots that I would be able to use this with. What a complete joke!

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I installed this, and while I didn't have anyone to try this out with, here are some observations. 1 Why does this hack need -2- Preference Panes? Prefpane #1 (The on-off switch) is simply that. This should not be in PrefPanes, but in iChat itself. 2 The 'Net Update' Pref Pane does more of a service for Intego than the user. There are -2- checkboxes for 'Opt-in Spam' from Intego. And -why- do they need an email address -and- password for the updater? All in all, this comes across as some marketing flunkys idea that should port from Windows. It's obvious that Intego doesn't know how to integrate with MacOSX. So, to recap; 1/ Put Settings and functionality for the app you are enhancing IN THE APP ITSELF -- NOT IN THE OS. If you need a primer on how to do this, look at the FREE sofware PithHelmet with its Safari integration. 2/ If you expect to receive $40 for your hack, don't add insult to injury by bloating our systems with extra flotsam like 'Opt-in Spam' in the Net Update. That is just plain insulting. To top off what others have been saying about how Apple may just have this functionality in the next one anyway (it's SSL, and Windows folks already have it), Bitwise and Fire have encryption capabilities for FREE. Also, if you really NEED crypto, PGP also has an Encryption service built into the service menu. You can encrypt text to your chat partner's public key and -know- that its meant only for them (and is not just some SSL stream). In short, if you're willing to do some homework, don't fall for this Windows vendor's price taking. Learn about other alternatives for the Mac. That being said, at least it comes with a de-installer.

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I installed this on 2 separate machines... and it doesn't work on either. I get the same error as other people do. However, I was able to get it so I could activate it, but, it didn't do anything in iChat on either machine.... not really of any use at all.

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I can't review it because it won't install. I download it, mount the .dmg and install. It installs, optimizes for a while then I'm forced to restart. Upon restart it doesn't ask for a Serial Number or if I want to use Evaluation Mode (which the manual tells me is what is supposed to occur) and in System Prefs it's Pref Pane is greyed out once it's clicked open. I've tried it on three Macs running 10.3.4.; two G4 Towers and one Titanium Powerbook.

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Intego is a company that when they bought out ASD Software left the existing customer base for dead. I am a registered user (or rather was as I am no longer going to upgrade) of NetBarrier and even as such their customer service is rude, abusive and could care less. The price for this app is laughable to the degree I wet my pants. Only a fool would register this rubbish. Intego needs to take their scare tactics solely into the Windows world where people fall for it and they need to quit making Mac apps altogether.

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