Skype may be one of the most important messaging tools on the market, but security has always been one of its weak points, and the lack of access to the code for an audit doesn't help either. Users who want a much more private profile in their communications will probably conclude that the best option is to replace Skype completely, and that's when Ring appears. This client works in a decentralized manner and has builds compatible with the main operating systems.
The Transparency Problem
Why is there so much insistence that current messengers are not suitable for users? One of the reasons that appears at the top of the list is "lack of transparency". WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger use proprietary code (although the Signal Protocol in WhatsApp is GPLv3). In fact, the owner is the same. We have no idea what happens in the background, what is shared, and who listens. WhatsApp's run-ins with the justice system have been numerous, but that is no guarantee. Security experts want to see the code and can't do so. The same happens with Skype, and worse, this client has appeared in leaked NSA documents. The market offers many alternatives for its replacement, and one of them is Ring.
A Decentralized Alternative
Ring presents itself as a Skype clone, at least regarding its interface. The technical differences are quite broad, starting with decentralized operation based on the OpenDHT protocol. Each user receives a special 40-character RingID that must be shared with others to start a contact. Encryption is applied end-to-end, and there is no data collection whatsoever. Basically, the idea behind Ring is that communication returns to user control, regardless of preferred platform. The official website provides builds compatible with Linux, Windows, macOS (OS X) and Android, plus the source code.
The Challenges Ahead
Beyond its good intentions and the technical superiority that Ring may have compared with Skype and other similar messengers, the underlying problem remains intact: the user is forced to start an "evangelization" process so that their contacts adopt this software and communicate with them. On the other hand, Ring is a work in progress, and anyone wanting to try it should expect all kinds of rough edges (for example, the latest beta 2 is not backward compatible and only connects with clients of identical version). These are classic challenges that many other projects failed to overcome; however, we want Ring to be the exception..
