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Security researcher [[Moxie Marlinspike]] and roboticist Stuart Anderson co-founded Whisper Systems in 2010.<ref name="bloomberg1">{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=141104009|title=Company Overview of Whisper Systems Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |date= |accessdate=2014-03-04}}</ref><ref name="wired1">{{cite news|last=Garling |first=Caleb |url=http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/12/twitter-open-sources-its-android-moxie/ |title=Twitter Open Sources Its Android Moxie &#124; Wired Enterprise |publisher=Wired.com |date= 2011-12-20|accessdate=2011-12-21}}</ref> In addition to launching [[TextSecure]] in May 2010, Whisper Systems produced [[RedPhone]], an application that provides encrypted voice calls.<ref name="forbes1">{{cite news|author=Andy Greenberg |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/firewall/2010/05/25/android-app-aims-to-allow-wiretap-proof-cell-phone-calls/ |title=Android App Aims to Allow Wiretap-Proof Cell Phone Calls |publisher=Forbes |date=2010-05-25 |accessdate=2014-02-28}}</ref> They also developed a firewall and tools for encrypting other forms of data.<ref name="wired1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techburrp.com/technology/secure-your-android-mobile-use-whisper-systems-free-security-app-whispercore/ |title=Secure your Android mobile – Use Whisper Systems free security app Whispercore « Technology updates by Techburrp |publisher=Techburrp.com |date= |accessdate=2011-12-21}}</ref>
Security researcher [[Moxie Marlinspike]] and roboticist Stuart Anderson co-founded Whisper Systems in 2010.<ref name="bloomberg1">{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=141104009|title=Company Overview of Whisper Systems Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |date= |accessdate=2014-03-04}}</ref><ref name="wired1">{{cite news|last=Garling |first=Caleb |url=http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/12/twitter-open-sources-its-android-moxie/ |title=Twitter Open Sources Its Android Moxie &#124; Wired Enterprise |publisher=Wired.com |date= 2011-12-20|accessdate=2011-12-21}}</ref> In addition to launching [[TextSecure]] in May 2010, Whisper Systems produced [[RedPhone]], an application that provides encrypted voice calls.<ref name="forbes1">{{cite news|author=Andy Greenberg |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/firewall/2010/05/25/android-app-aims-to-allow-wiretap-proof-cell-phone-calls/ |title=Android App Aims to Allow Wiretap-Proof Cell Phone Calls |publisher=Forbes |date=2010-05-25 |accessdate=2014-02-28}}</ref> They also developed a firewall and tools for encrypting other forms of data.<ref name="wired1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techburrp.com/technology/secure-your-android-mobile-use-whisper-systems-free-security-app-whispercore/ |title=Secure your Android mobile – Use Whisper Systems free security app Whispercore « Technology updates by Techburrp |publisher=Techburrp.com |date= |accessdate=2011-12-21}}</ref>


On November 28, 2011, Whisper Systems announced that it had been acquired by [[Twitter]]. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by either company.<ref name="venturebeat1" /> Shortly after the acquisition, Whisper Systems' RedPhone service was made unavailable.<ref name="forbes2" /> Some criticized the removal, arguing that the software was "specifically targeted [to help] people under repressive regimes" and that it left people like the Egyptians in "a dangerous position" during the events of the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]].<ref name="wired2" />
On November 28, 2011, Whisper Systems announced that it had been acquired by [[Twitter]]. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by either company.<ref name="venturebeat1" /> The acquisition was done "primarily so that Mr. Marlinspike could help the then-startup improve its security".<ref name="Yadron-2015">{{cite news|last1=Yadron|first1=Danny|title=Moxie Marlinspike: The Coder Who Encrypted Your Texts|url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/moxie-marlinspike-the-coder-who-encrypted-your-texts-1436486274|accessdate=10 July 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=9 July 2015}}</ref> Shortly after the acquisition, Whisper Systems' RedPhone service was made unavailable.<ref name="forbes2" /> Some criticized the removal, arguing that the software was "specifically targeted [to help] people under repressive regimes" and that it left people like the Egyptians in "a dangerous position" during the events of the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]].<ref name="wired2" />


Twitter released TextSecure as [[free and open-source software]] under the [[GNU General Public License|GPLv3]] license in December 2011.<ref name="twitter1" /><ref name="whispersys2" /><ref name="wired1"/><ref name="mashable2" /> RedPhone was also released under the same license in July 2012.<ref name="whispersys3" /> Because some of Whisper Systems' software was open-sourced by Twitter, it has been speculated that the acquisition was done mostly for talent acquisition purposes.<ref>{{cite web|author=Colleen Taylor |url=http://gigaom.com/2011/12/20/twitter-to-open-source-code-from-newly-acquired-whisper-systems/|title=Twitter to open source code from newly-acquired Whisper Systems |publisher=Gigaom |date= 2011-12-20|accessdate=2014-03-29}}</ref>
Twitter released TextSecure as [[free and open-source software]] under the [[GNU General Public License|GPLv3]] license in December 2011.<ref name="twitter1" /><ref name="whispersys2" /><ref name="wired1"/><ref name="mashable2" /> RedPhone was also released under the same license in July 2012.<ref name="whispersys3" />


Marlinspike later left Twitter and founded [[Open Whisper Systems]] as a collaborative Open Source project for the continued development of TextSecure and RedPhone.<ref name="wired3">{{cite web| url=http://www.wired.com/2014/07/free-encrypted-calling-finally-comes-to-the-iphone/ |title=Your iPhone Can Finally Make Free, Encrypted Calls |publisher= Wired |author= Andy Greenberg |date= 29 July 2014 |accessdate= 18 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="welcome" /> As of May 2015, Open Whisper Systems consists of a large community of volunteer Open Source contributors, as well as a small team of dedicated grant-funded developers. Their active projects include TextSecure, RedPhone, and [[Signal (software)|Signal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/WhisperSystems/|title=Open Whisper Systems |website=Github |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref>
Marlinspike later left Twitter and founded [[Open Whisper Systems]] as a collaborative Open Source project for the continued development of TextSecure and RedPhone.<ref name="wired3">{{cite web| url=http://www.wired.com/2014/07/free-encrypted-calling-finally-comes-to-the-iphone/ |title=Your iPhone Can Finally Make Free, Encrypted Calls |publisher= Wired |author= Andy Greenberg |date= 29 July 2014 |accessdate= 18 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="welcome" /> As of May 2015, Open Whisper Systems consists of a large community of volunteer Open Source contributors, as well as a small team of dedicated grant-funded developers. Their active projects include TextSecure, RedPhone, and [[Signal (software)|Signal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/WhisperSystems/|title=Open Whisper Systems |website=Github |accessdate=17 May 2015}}</ref>

Revision as of 10:34, 10 July 2015

This article is about a subsidiary of Twitter. For the open-source software project, see Open Whisper Systems.
Whisper Systems
IndustryEncryption software, Mobile software, Mobile security
Founded2010
FoundersMoxie Marlinspike and Stuart Anderson
DefunctNovember 28, 2011 (2011-11-28)
FateAcquired by Twitter
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
,
U.S.

Whisper Systems was an enterprise mobile security company that was acquired by Twitter in November 2011.[1][2] The company was co-founded by security researcher Moxie Marlinspike and roboticist Stuart Anderson in 2010.[3] Some of Whisper Systems' software was made available under free software licenses after the acquisition,[4] which led to the creation of Open Whisper Systems.[5]

History

Security researcher Moxie Marlinspike and roboticist Stuart Anderson co-founded Whisper Systems in 2010.[6][3] In addition to launching TextSecure in May 2010, Whisper Systems produced RedPhone, an application that provides encrypted voice calls.[7] They also developed a firewall and tools for encrypting other forms of data.[3][8]

On November 28, 2011, Whisper Systems announced that it had been acquired by Twitter. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by either company.[9] The acquisition was done "primarily so that Mr. Marlinspike could help the then-startup improve its security".[10] Shortly after the acquisition, Whisper Systems' RedPhone service was made unavailable.[11] Some criticized the removal, arguing that the software was "specifically targeted [to help] people under repressive regimes" and that it left people like the Egyptians in "a dangerous position" during the events of the 2011 Egyptian revolution.[12]

Twitter released TextSecure as free and open-source software under the GPLv3 license in December 2011.[13][14][3][15] RedPhone was also released under the same license in July 2012.[16]

Marlinspike later left Twitter and founded Open Whisper Systems as a collaborative Open Source project for the continued development of TextSecure and RedPhone.[17][5] As of May 2015, Open Whisper Systems consists of a large community of volunteer Open Source contributors, as well as a small team of dedicated grant-funded developers. Their active projects include TextSecure, RedPhone, and Signal.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Tom Cheredar (November 28, 2011). "Twitter acquires Android security startup Whisper Systems". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  2. ^ Brad McCarty (28 November 2011). "Twitter acquires mobile data security gurus Whisper Systems". Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Garling, Caleb (2011-12-20). "Twitter Open Sources Its Android Moxie | Wired Enterprise". Wired.com. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  4. ^ Pete Pachal (2011-12-20). "Twitter Takes TextSecure, Texting App for Dissidents, Open Source". Mashable. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  5. ^ a b "A New Home". Open Whisper Systems. 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  6. ^ "Company Overview of Whisper Systems Inc". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  7. ^ Andy Greenberg (2010-05-25). "Android App Aims to Allow Wiretap-Proof Cell Phone Calls". Forbes. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  8. ^ "Secure your Android mobile – Use Whisper Systems free security app Whispercore « Technology updates by Techburrp". Techburrp.com. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  9. ^ Tom Cheredar (November 28, 2011). "Twitter acquires Android security startup Whisper Systems". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  10. ^ Yadron, Danny (9 July 2015). "Moxie Marlinspike: The Coder Who Encrypted Your Texts". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  11. ^ Andy Greenberg (2011-11-28). "Twitter Acquires Moxie Marlinspike's Encryption Startup Whisper Systems". Forbes. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  12. ^ Garling, Caleb (2011-11-28). "Twitter Buys Some Middle East Moxie | Wired Enterprise". Wired.com. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  13. ^ Chris Aniszczyk (20 December 2011). "The Whispers Are True". The Twitter Developer Blog. Twitter. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  14. ^ "TextSecure is now Open Source!". Whisper Systems. 20 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  15. ^ Pete Pachal (2011-12-20). "Twitter Takes TextSecure, Texting App for Dissidents, Open Source". Mashable. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  16. ^ "RedPhone is now Open Source!". Whisper Systems. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  17. ^ Andy Greenberg (29 July 2014). "Your iPhone Can Finally Make Free, Encrypted Calls". Wired. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  18. ^ "Open Whisper Systems". Github. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
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