XMPP (Jabber). How Communication Happens in the Darknet.
Jabber is the old name for the XMPP protocol for instant messaging, which is still popular among users. On darknet forums, the colloquial term "jaba" is commonly used.
The structure of the XMPP network is very simple: there are XMPP servers, many of which are located around the world, for example, jabber.ru. You choose a server, register on it similarly to how you would register on any website (if, of course, the server owner has allowed registration). At the moment of registration on the server, an account is created for you in the form of a username and password.
Most XMPP servers require only a username and password for registration. There is no binding to a mobile device, email, or other personal data. A new account can be registered in a matter of seconds, and you can use up to a hundred accounts on one device simultaneously.
The XMPP server is tied to a domain name, and your XMPP account will look like this: unique_name@server_domain_name, for example, [email protected]. This is similar to an email, and many users confuse them when trying to send an email to the recipient. In some cases, you may encounter the abbreviation JID (Jabber ID) – this is a synonym for an XMPP account.
By registering on one server, you can communicate with all XMPP users, regardless of which server they are registered on (again, unless there are any restrictions from the owner of the XMPP server).
To communicate via the XMPP protocol, special client programs are used. There are quite a few of them, and they are available on all popular mobile and desktop platforms. The most well-known among them are Pidgin, Adium, Xabber, and Psi+.
The difference between the Jabber network and other messengers is decentralization, or the absence of a single center. You can set up and maintain your own server, store or not store logs, determine data collection policies, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies. For this reason, Jabber is difficult to subject to state censorship.
Myth
XMPP is a secure protocol that is not intercepted even by special services.