Secure messaging app Briar releases new desktop version with private groups and macOS support

The messaging app Briar has released its latest desktop version, 0.5.0-beta, which introduces several new features. Briar is a free and open source peer-to-peer encrypted messaging app for Android and desktop. It offers secure messaging by storing messages on the user's device, rather than in the cloud, and allows direct connection with nearby contacts without requiring internet access.

One of the major updates in this release is the support for private groups. Users can now create private groups within Briar and have secure conversations with multiple participants. This feature enhances the app's functionality and allows for more collaborative communication.

In addition to private groups, the new version of Briar also introduces the ability to link a Briar Mailbox to the desktop client. Briar Mailbox is a helper app that enables users to receive encrypted messages from their contacts even when Briar is offline. With this new update, users can now link their Briar Mailbox to the desktop client, providing a seamless messaging experience across devices. This option was also released a few weeks ago for Android.

Another significant improvement in Briar 0.5.0-beta is the addition of support for macOS. Previously, the desktop client was only available for Windows and Linux, but now macOS users can also enjoy the secure messaging capabilities of Briar.