Why Is Wickr Shutting Down? Wickr App History, Foundation, And More

Why Is Wickr Shutting Down - Wickr is an American software company in New York City. The corporation is primarily known for its same-named instant messaging program. In this article, we will explain Why Is Wickr Shutting Down. Therefore, kindly follow this article till the end to find out Why Is Wickr Shutting Down.  

by C Hariharan | Updated Jan 05, 2023

Why Is Wickr Shutting Down? Wickr App History, Foundation, And More
Source: Twitter

Wickr Me Shutting Down

Wickr Me, a free messaging app best known for its end-to-end encrypted communications, will stop accepting new users after December 31, 2022, AWS Wickr announced. Meanwhile, the end of 2023 will also mark the end of the Wickr Me app.

The company, in a statement, mentioned, “After careful consideration, we will be concentrating Wickr’s focus on securing our business and public sector customers’ data and communications with AWS Wickr and Wickr Enterprise, and have decided to discontinue our consumer product, Wickr Me.”

What Is Wickr?

Wickr is an American software company in New York City. The corporation is primarily known for its same-named instant messaging program. Users can send and receive end-to-end encrypted, content-expiring messages with attachments like photographs, videos, and files using the Wickr instant messaging app. The program is compatible with the Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android operating systems. Amazon Web Services purchased Wickr on June 25, 2021.

Wickr History

A group of privacy and security campaigners founded Wickr in 2012. Nico Sell was the firm's CEO up until May 2015, when she took on the roles of co-chairwoman and CEO of the recently established nonprofit Wickr Foundation, which the company had initial funds for. The company's CEO is Mark Fields, who formerly oversaw CME's Strategic Investment Group. He held that post up until November 2016, at which point Joel Wallenstrom, the co-founder of iSec Partners, took over as CEO and President of the business.

Why Is Wickr Shutting Down?

In 2012, the Wickr Me app was released. According to its inventors, 256-bit authenticated end-to-end encryption is used to protect user messages, and the company does not possess the key needed to decipher them. According to Wickr, it would "take trillions of years" to decrypt any of the encrypted keys.

Wickr earned contracts with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to offer secure communication services to the US government thanks to its high-strength encryption. Amazon Web Services bought Wickr, the software startup that created the Wickr Me app, in 2021.

Wickr's secure chat services also attracted illegal activities, raising worries about the app's acceptance by drug traffickers and other sketchy characters. The shutdown notification states that Wickr would only concentrate on corporate clients in the public and private sectors.

Wickr Foundation

Wickr Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded by Nico Sell. In order to develop the Private Web and alter how society utilizes the Internet, the foundation runs a social-impact business fund. The Wickr Foundation is committed to incubating and funding concepts that revolutionize user control and empower data ownership in addition to educating the public on privacy and information security. The organization spearheads various efforts to increase privacy awareness around the world and promote the development of security-enhancing technologies. It is committed to educating human rights activists, policymakers, kids, and journalists about information security and privacy.


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Why Is Wickr Shutting Down - FAQs

1. Why Is Wickr Shutting Down?

The shutdown notification states that Wickr would only concentrate on corporate clients in the public and private sectors.

2. When did the Wickr Me app launch?

The Wickr Me app was launched in 2012.

3. What is Wickr Me App?

Wickr is an American software company in New York City. The corporation is primarily known for its same-named instant messaging program. 

4. Who is the founder of the Wickr Foundation?

Wickr Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded by Nico Sell.

5. Is Wickr Me a free messaging app?

Yes, Wickr Me is a free messaging app best known for its end-to-end encrypted communications

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