To start *Pidgin* choose **Applications** ▸ **Internet** ▸ **Pidgin**.
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For more detaileddocumentationrefer to, visit the [official <span class="application">Pidgin</span> user guide[*Pidgin* FAQ](https://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/Using%20Pidgin).
As explained on its [official page](https://otr.cypherpunks.ca/), <span class="application">Off-the-Record</span> messaging[OTR (Off-the-Record)](https://otr.cypherpunks.ca/) encryption allows you to have private conversations over instant messaging by providing:
- **Encryption**<br /> No one else can read your instant messages. - **Authentication**<br /> You are assured the correspondent is who you think it is. - **Deniability**<br /> The messages you send do not have digital signatures that are checkable by a third party. Anyone can forge messages after a conversation to make them look like they came from you. However, during a conversation, your correspondent is assured the messages are authentic and unmodified. - **Perfect forward secrecy**<br /> If you lose control of your private keys, no previous conversation is compromised.
The messages you send do not have digital signatures that are checkable by a third party. Anyone can forge messages after a conversation to make them look like they came from you. However, during a conversation, your correspondent is assured the messages are authentic and unmodified.
If you lose control of your private keys, no previous conversation is compromised.
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<p>To store your OTR keys and preferences across separate working<i>Pidgin</i> settings across different Tails sessions, you can turn on the [[Pidgin|doc/first_steps/persistenc Internet Messenger|persistent_storage/configure#pidgin]] feature of the Persistent Storage.</p>
<p>To store your OTR keys and <i>Pidgin</i> settings across different Tails sessions, you can turn on the [[Pidgin Internet Messenger|persistent_storage/configure#pidgin]] feature of the Persistent Storage.</p>
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<p>In a private OTR conversation over IRC, <strong>a message sent using the <code>/me</code> command is not encrypted</strong>. The person receiving the message is notified by a warning.</p>
<p>In a private OTR conversation over IRC, a message sent using the <code>/me</code> command is not encrypted. The person receiving the message is notified by a warning.</p>
- [Accessing freenode Via Tor](https://freenode.net/irc_servers.shtml#tor)(the hidden services mentioned on this page are sometimes unavailable)- [OFTC and Tor](https://www.oftc.net/Tor/)- [List of IRC/chat networks that block or support Tor](https://tracgitlab.torproject.org/projects/torlegacy/trac/-/wikis/doc/BlockingIrc)