• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
RestorePrivacy

RestorePrivacy

Resources to stay safe and secure online

  • News
  • Tools
    • Secure Browser
    • VPN
    • Ad Blocker
    • Secure Email
    • Private Search Engine
    • Data Removal
      • Incogni Review
    • Password Manager
    • Secure Messaging App
    • Tor
    • Identity Theft Protection
    • Unblock Websites
    • Privacy Tools
  • Email
    • Secure Email
    • ProtonMail Review
    • Tutanota Review
    • Mailfence Review
    • Mailbox.org Review
    • Hushmail Review
    • Posteo Review
    • Fastmail Review
    • Skiff Mail Review
    • Runbox Review
    • Temporary Disposable Email
    • Encrypted Email
    • Alternatives to Gmail
  • VPN
    • What is VPN
    • VPN Reviews
      • NordVPN Review
      • Surfshark VPN Review
      • VyprVPN Review
      • Perfect Privacy Review
      • ExpressVPN Review
      • CyberGhost Review
      • AVG VPN Review
      • IPVanish Review
      • Hotspot Shield VPN Review
      • ProtonVPN Review
      • Atlas VPN Review
      • Private Internet Access Review
      • Avast VPN Review
      • TorGuard Review
      • PrivadoVPN Review
    • VPN Comparison
      • NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs PIA
      • IPVanish vs ExpressVPN
      • CyberGhost vs NordVPN
      • IPVanish vs NordVPN
      • ExpressVPN vs PIA
      • VyprVPN vs NordVPN
      • CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs HideMyAss
      • ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN
      • Atlas VPN vs NordVPN
      • NordVPN vs Surfshark
      • ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
      • NordVPN vs Proton VPN
      • Surfshark vs CyberGhost
      • Surfshark vs IPVanish
    • Best VPNs
      • Best VPN for Torrenting
      • Best VPN for Netflix
      • Best Free VPN
      • VPN for Firestick TV
      • Best VPN for Android
      • Best VPN for Gaming
      • Best VPN for PC
      • Best VPN for Disney Plus
      • Best VPN for Hulu
      • Best VPN for Mac
      • Best VPN for Streaming
      • Best VPN for Windows
      • Best VPN for iPhone
    • VPN Coupons
      • ExpressVPN Coupon
      • NordVPN Coupon
      • Cyber Monday VPN Deals
      • NordVPN Cyber Monday
      • Surfshark VPN Cyber Monday
      • ExpressVPN Cyber Monday
    • VPN Guides
      • Free Trial VPN
      • Cheap VPNs
      • Static IP VPN
      • VPN Ad Blocking
      • No Logs VPN
      • Best VPN Chrome
      • Best VPN Reddit
      • Split Tunneling VPN
      • VPN for Binance
      • WireGuard VPN
      • VPN for Amazon Prime
      • VPN for Linux
      • VPN for iPad
      • VPN for Firefox
      • VPN for BBC iPlayer
    • By Country
      • Best VPN Canada
      • Best VPN USA
      • Best VPN UK
      • Best VPN Australia
      • VPN for Russia
    • VPN Router
  • Password
    • Best Password Managers
    • Comparisons
      • NordPass vs 1Password
      • 1Password vs LastPass
      • NordPass vs LastPass
      • RoboForm vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Bitwarden
      • Dashlane vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Dashlane
      • NordPass vs Bitwarden
    • KeePass Review
    • NordPass Review
    • 1Password Review
    • Dashlane Review
    • RoboForm Review
    • LastPass Review
    • Bitwarden Review
    • Strong Password
  • Storage
    • Best Cloud Storage
    • pCloud Review
    • Nextcloud Review
    • IDrive Review
    • SpiderOak Review
    • Sync.com Review
    • MEGA Cloud Review
    • NordLocker Review
    • Tresorit Review
    • Google Drive Alternatives
  • Messenger
    • Secure Messaging Apps
    • Signal Review
    • Telegram Review
    • Wire Review
    • Threema Review
    • Session Review
  • Info
    • Mission
    • Press
    • Contact
  • News
  • Tools
    • Secure Browser
    • VPN
    • Ad Blocker
    • Secure Email
    • Private Search Engine
    • Data Removal
      • Incogni Review
    • Password Manager
    • Secure Messaging App
    • Tor
    • Identity Theft Protection
    • Unblock Websites
    • Privacy Tools
  • Email
    • Secure Email
    • ProtonMail Review
    • Tutanota Review
    • Mailfence Review
    • Mailbox.org Review
    • Hushmail Review
    • Posteo Review
    • Fastmail Review
    • Skiff Mail Review
    • Runbox Review
    • Temporary Disposable Email
    • Encrypted Email
    • Alternatives to Gmail
  • VPN
    • What is VPN
    • VPN Reviews
      • NordVPN Review
      • Surfshark VPN Review
      • VyprVPN Review
      • Perfect Privacy Review
      • ExpressVPN Review
      • CyberGhost Review
      • AVG VPN Review
      • IPVanish Review
      • Hotspot Shield VPN Review
      • ProtonVPN Review
      • Atlas VPN Review
      • Private Internet Access Review
      • Avast VPN Review
      • TorGuard Review
      • PrivadoVPN Review
    • VPN Comparison
      • NordVPN vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs PIA
      • IPVanish vs ExpressVPN
      • CyberGhost vs NordVPN
      • IPVanish vs NordVPN
      • ExpressVPN vs PIA
      • VyprVPN vs NordVPN
      • CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN
      • NordVPN vs HideMyAss
      • ExpressVPN vs ProtonVPN
      • Atlas VPN vs NordVPN
      • NordVPN vs Surfshark
      • ExpressVPN vs Surfshark
      • NordVPN vs Proton VPN
      • Surfshark vs CyberGhost
      • Surfshark vs IPVanish
    • Best VPNs
      • Best VPN for Torrenting
      • Best VPN for Netflix
      • Best Free VPN
      • VPN for Firestick TV
      • Best VPN for Android
      • Best VPN for Gaming
      • Best VPN for PC
      • Best VPN for Disney Plus
      • Best VPN for Hulu
      • Best VPN for Mac
      • Best VPN for Streaming
      • Best VPN for Windows
      • Best VPN for iPhone
    • VPN Coupons
      • ExpressVPN Coupon
      • NordVPN Coupon
      • Cyber Monday VPN Deals
      • NordVPN Cyber Monday
      • Surfshark VPN Cyber Monday
      • ExpressVPN Cyber Monday
    • VPN Guides
      • Free Trial VPN
      • Cheap VPNs
      • Static IP VPN
      • VPN Ad Blocking
      • No Logs VPN
      • Best VPN Chrome
      • Best VPN Reddit
      • Split Tunneling VPN
      • VPN for Binance
      • WireGuard VPN
      • VPN for Amazon Prime
      • VPN for Linux
      • VPN for iPad
      • VPN for Firefox
      • VPN for BBC iPlayer
    • By Country
      • Best VPN Canada
      • Best VPN USA
      • Best VPN UK
      • Best VPN Australia
      • VPN for Russia
    • VPN Router
  • Password
    • Best Password Managers
    • Comparisons
      • NordPass vs 1Password
      • 1Password vs LastPass
      • NordPass vs LastPass
      • RoboForm vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Bitwarden
      • Dashlane vs NordPass
      • 1Password vs Dashlane
      • NordPass vs Bitwarden
    • KeePass Review
    • NordPass Review
    • 1Password Review
    • Dashlane Review
    • RoboForm Review
    • LastPass Review
    • Bitwarden Review
    • Strong Password
  • Storage
    • Best Cloud Storage
    • pCloud Review
    • Nextcloud Review
    • IDrive Review
    • SpiderOak Review
    • Sync.com Review
    • MEGA Cloud Review
    • NordLocker Review
    • Tresorit Review
    • Google Drive Alternatives
  • Messenger
    • Secure Messaging Apps
    • Signal Review
    • Telegram Review
    • Wire Review
    • Threema Review
    • Session Review
  • Info
    • Mission
    • Press
    • Contact

Amazon to Pull the Plug on Wickr Me at the End of 2023

November 24, 2022 By Heinrich Long — 2 Comments
Amazon Wickr Me Discontinued

Amazon has decided to discontinue Wickr Me, the free-to-use consumer edition of the end-to-end encrypted instant messenger app.

Wickr was acquired by Amazon Web Services on June 25, 2021, so it didn’t take long for the new owners to form a strategy that will better serve their business interests.

As the company explained in an announcement on the Wickr site, it will stop accepting new user registrations on December 31, 2022, and ultimately pull the plug on the platform on December 31, 2023.

AWS Wickr and Wickr Enterprise, used in business environments, will continue to be supported by Amazon, with the company promising to focus its resources on these products now.

“We understand the need for our customers to maintain secure communication for sensitive information, and we are working closely with customers to meet their needs with AWS Wickr,” mentions the announcement.

AWS Wickr is also end-to-end encrypted, meaning that any data intercepted by in-betweeners is encrypted with AES-256, so communications are safe from eavesdroppers.

Moreover, AWS Wickr is compatible with data retention obligations, so it can be used by a broad range of private and public organizations, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

For now, there are no instructions on how Wickr Me users can port their data to AWS Wickr, but information on that front will be made available in the coming months.

Wickr Abuse

Amazon did not elaborate on the reasons that led to the decision to shut down Wickr Me. However, blatant abuse of the platform for illicit activities might have played a key role.

There have been multiple reports about the app being used by pedophiles, abuses, and also drug dealers in the United States, the UK, and Australia.

Users of this sort are taking advantage of the security the app offers them in combination with the lack of policy enforcement, allowing them to share illegal material or organize operations without risking being identified.

Amazon doesn’t police activity on Wickr very fervently, flagging only a handful of cases out of thousands that were reported in the past years.

In summary, Amazon is either uninterested in or unable to stop illicit activity on Wickr, at least with the assigned resources, and an investment to build a larger policy enforcement team presumably isn’t worth it for a free app.

People looking for free end-to-end encrypted apps that allow anonymous registration may look at other encrypted messaging apps, such as Signal, Wire, or Threema.

Other mainstream instant messenger apps with dependable end-to-end encryption that offer at least the option of pseudonymous registration are WhatsApp, iMessage, and Viber.

Related Articles:

  • Wickr Messenger Review 2022
  • Best Secure and Encrypted Messaging Apps in 2022
  • 5 Best Alternatives to WhatsApp in 2022 (Private & Secure)
  • Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video (Only 4 Work Well)

About Heinrich Long

Heinrich is an associate editor for RestorePrivacy and veteran expert in the digital privacy field. He was born in a small town in the Midwest (USA) before setting sail for offshore destinations. Although he long chafed at the global loss of online privacy, after Edward Snowden’s revelations in 2013, Heinrich realized it was time to join the good fight for digital privacy rights. Heinrich enjoys traveling the world, while also keeping his location and digital tracks covered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wolfgang Wulff

    November 29, 2022

    People looking for free end-to-end encrypted apps that allow anonymous registration may also look at Olvid, as it claims to be the most secure messenger in the world.

    Reply
  2. Hmm

    November 25, 2022

    I suppose we all should be devastated…if we actually heard about Wickr before now.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

Digital Privacy Essentials:
Secure Browser
Private Search Engines
Secure Email
Best Password Managers
Secure Messaging Services
Best Ad Blockers
Best VPN Services
Secure Cloud Storage

Privacy & Security Guides:
Privacy Tools
Alternatives to Google Products
Firefox Privacy Modifications
Five Eyes, 9 Eyes, 14 Eyes Spying
Browser Fingerprinting
Is Tor Safe?
Alternatives to Gmail
VPN vs Tor
Alternatives to WhatsApp
Is Your Antivirus Spying on You?
Controlling Communication Channels is Crucial for Privacy
Anonymity Networks: VPNs, Tor, and I2P
How to Really Be Anonymous Online
Private and Anonymous Payments

Secure Email Reviews:
ProtonMail Review
Tutanota Review
Mailfence Review
Mailbox.org Review
Hushmail Review
Posteo Review
Fastmail Review
Runbox Review
CTemplar Review
Temporary Email Services
Encrypted Email

Password Manager Reviews:
Bitwarden Review
LastPass Review
KeePass Review
NordPass Review
Dashlane Review
1Password Review
Best Password Managers

Secure Messaging App Reviews:
Wire Review
Signal Review
Threema Review
Telegram Review
Session Review
Wickr Review

Secure Cloud Storage Reviews
Tresorit Review
MEGA Cloud Review
Sync.com Review
Nextcloud Review
IDrive Review
pCloud Review
SpiderOak Review
NordLocker Review

How To Guides
How to Encrypt Files on Windows
How to Encrypt Email
How to Configure Windows 10 for Privacy
How to use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
How to Secure Your Android Device for Privacy
How to Secure Your Home Network
How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
How to Unblock Websites
How to Fix WebRTC Leaks
How to Test Your VPN
How to Hide Your IP Address
How to Create Strong Passwords
How to Really Be Anonymous Online

About RestorePrivacy

Contact

Restore Privacy Checklist

  1. Secure browser: Modified Firefox or Brave
  2. VPN: NordVPN [63% Off Coupon] or Surfshark
  3. Ad blocker: uBlock Origin or AdGuard
  4. Secure email: Mailfence or Tutanota
  5. Secure Messenger: Signal or Threema
  6. Private search engine: MetaGer or Brave
  7. Password manager: NordPass or Bitwarden

About

RestorePrivacy is a digital privacy advocacy group committed to helping people stay safe and secure online. You can support this project through donations, purchasing items through our links (we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you), and sharing this information with others. See our mission here.

We’re available for Press and media inquiries here.

RestorePrivacy is also on Twitter

COPYRIGHT © 2023 RESTORE PRIVACY, LLC · PRIVACY POLICY · TERMS OF USE · CONTACT · SITEMAP