# Minimalist IM client? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856 "2013-09-14T19:26:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/1 "2013-09-14T19:26:06Z")
Is there a secure, tiny-footprinted IM client that lacks spyware, advertising or other tracking abilities (i.e. no Facebook-like utilities)? One that works on OSX, Windows and Android? Mrs. Devil and I only want to check in, chat or maybe exchange files with each other when we’re working away from the office—we have no interest in social networking at large or chatting with family, friends or hot singles in our area. We also don’t want to use Google Voice or anything that requires a log-in tied to some permanently identifying piece of information. Given our reluctance to use marketing-driven service (collecting or ad-displaying), we’re willing to pay for it if necessary. Anything out there? ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/2 "2013-09-14T19:40:15Z")
My only suggestion is Viber. It ties to a cell phone number, but is cross platform, once you set it up to the cell number it syncs with no logins needed. They text you back an authentication code to make sure it is you when you set it up. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/3 "2013-09-14T22:43:07Z")
Needs our phone numbers? I wonder if it pulls directly from the phone or if I can use a Google Voice never-used number to start things up. I also need to find myself a good source to understand Android permissions. I can imagine a lot of these would be useful, but I hate blissfully agreeing to things—seems so irresponsible: > [@](#): > > This app has access to these permissions: > > **Your accounts** > create accounts and set passwords > find accounts on the device > add or remove accounts > use accounts on the device > \*\* > Your location\*\* > precise location (GPS and network-based) > approximate location (network-based) > > \*\*Your messages > \*\*receive text messages (SMS) > send SMS messages > edit your text messages (SMS or MMS) > read your text messages (SMS or MMS) > **Network communication** > receive data from Internet > full network access > view Wi-Fi connections > view network connections > change network connectivity > **Phone calls** > read phone status and identity > directly call phone numbers > modify phone state > **Storage** > modify or delete the contents of your USB storage > **System tools** > modify system settings > install shortcuts > uninstall shortcuts > send sticky broadcast > test access to protected storage > Your applications information > retrieve running apps > close other apps > run at startup > **Bluetooth** > pair with Bluetooth devices > access Bluetooth settings > **Camera** > take pictures and videos > **Microphone** > record audio > **Lock screen** > disable your screen lock > **Your social information** > read your contacts > modify your contacts > read call log > write call log > read your social stream > write to your social stream > **Development tools** > read sensitive log data > **modify secure system settings** > Affects Battery > control vibration > prevent device from sleeping > Audio Settings > change your audio settings > Sync Settings > read sync settings > toggle sync on and off > read sync statistics > **Wallpaper** > set wallpaper > Choose a device ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/4 "2013-09-14T22:51:31Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Needs our phone numbers? I wonder if it pulls directly from the phone or if I can use a Google Voice never-used number to start things up. > > I also need to find myself a good source to understand Android permissions. I can imagine a lot of these would be useful, but I hate blissfully agreeing to things—seems so irresponsible: It needs to be able to SMS to the device Alot of this ties directly to any app that allows communication between two devices and allows file transfers. Is there some specific concern you have requiring anonymity? Tell us the problem you are trying to solve and we might be able to give better answers. If you are looking to avoid any “imperial entanglements” you are looking at far more complex setups that on some level will still require logins. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/5 "2013-09-15T00:29:08Z")
I would recommend AIM as your network. You can set up fake accounts and chat with your phone’s embedded IM/SMS client. For OS X I recommend Adium, they have very minimalist options. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/6 "2013-09-15T04:34:49Z")
Set up a pvt, number on twitter? Plain text on your smart phones? Use codes to convey messages if you do not want big brother to know… Using laptops? Send files to your & her main computers? One for text, pdfs, jpegs, full web pages, smart phone pics or actual camera pics? This is not all that simple. What device to what device? Smart phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, size of files, contents of files??? Why not just meet for lunch? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/7 "2013-09-17T01:23:42Z")
How about Google Talk/Hangouts? It’s already integrated into Android and it’s usable from the web or from desktop clients. No ads and you can opt out of their tracking. Or just make a fake account. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimalist-im-client/668856/8 "2013-09-17T18:21:47Z")
Yeah, no reason not to use Google Hangouts (formally Google Talk), especially since you say you need one that doe Android, it’s it’s perfectly integrated into Android’s system.