# maqp/tfc

Tinfoil Chat - Onion-routed, endpoint secure messaging system

Repository: https://github.com/maqp/tfc
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/tfc
Language: Python
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: open-source, end-to-end-encryption, secure-messenger, tor, onion-service, data-diode, endpoint-security, python3, tails, qubes-os, privacy-by-design, secure-by-default, tor-onion-service, onion-services, hidden-services
Last push: 2026-07-21T12:27:51+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 74/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 93, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3871, "days_push": 43, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1320, forks 87 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:21.758768+00:00)

## What it is
Tinfoil Chat (TFC) is a peer-to-peer, end-to-end encrypted messaging system built on Tor onion services and high-assurance hardware architecture (data diodes, separate endpoint machines). It is designed to protect against endpoint compromise, remote key exfiltration, MITM attacks, and passive traffic collection.

## Use cases
- send end-to-end encrypted messages over tor onion services
- protect against endpoint hacking and key exfiltration
- secure messaging for high-risk threat models
- run a privacy-by-design secure messenger on qubes os or tails
- exchange encrypted files and group messages with deniable authentication
- communicate without metadata leaking to network observers

## When to choose
- you face nation-state or organized crime adversaries who compromise endpoints
- you want hardware-separated, onion-routed messaging with forward secrecy
- you run Qubes OS or Tails and need a hardened secure messenger

## When to avoid
- you need a convenient everyday chat app with mobile support
- you lack the hardware setup (data diodes, separate machines) it assumes
- you need multi-user team chat or voice/video calls

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: cryptography, security, privacy, chat-interface
- domain: privacy, security, messaging-platforms, censorship-circumvention
- platform: python, cross-platform, self-hosted
- tags: tor, onion-services, end-to-end-encryption, data-diode, qubes-os, tails, secure-messenger, endpoint-security, p2p, linux

## Member repositories
- maqp/tfc (main) score 74

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:21.758768+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T04:47:38.275217+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/maqp/tfc (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:21.758768+00:00, sha 7fe0ee3c86b8)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.