Instant Mode Switching
Change your communication mode with a single tap. No delay, no reconnection. Your Hat transitions seamlessly between modes in real time.
Communication Modes
Your Rules.Your Signal.
Control how every Hat communicates. Go invisible with Stealth, chat normally, or broadcast to many — all end-to-end encrypted. Switch modes instantly, per Hat.
In the App
One Tap to Switch
Each Hat has its own communication mode. Switch between Stealth, Normal, and Broadcast with a single tap — no restart, no delay.
Core Capabilities
Built for Control
Communication Modes give you granular control over your digital presence — per Hat, per moment.
Per-Hat Independence
Each Hat has its own mode. Your work Hat can be in Normal while your personal Hat runs Stealth. Modes never bleed between identities.
Encrypted in Every Mode
Whether you're in Stealth, Normal, or Broadcast — all communications remain end-to-end encrypted. Mode changes never weaken your security.
Zero Metadata Leakage
Stealth Mode doesn't just hide you from contacts — it hides you from the server. No presence data, no timestamps, no activity signals.
Process
How Communication Modes Work
Four simple concepts. Total control over how each Hat communicates.
Select Your Hat
Open the Hat you want to configure. Each Hat manages its own communication mode independently.
Choose a Mode
Pick Stealth to disappear, Normal for standard messaging, or Broadcast to send one-way announcements.
Communicate
Your Hat now operates in the selected mode. Contacts interact with you according to your chosen posture.
Switch Anytime
Change modes whenever you want. Transition is instant — no messages are lost, no connections are dropped.
Applications
When to Use Each Mode
Different situations call for different communication postures.
Going Dark
Use Stealth when you need to go completely off the grid. No one can reach you, and no one knows you're there.
Team Communication
Normal Mode for daily encrypted conversations with colleagues. Full two-way messaging with all security features active.
Source Protection
Journalists can switch to Stealth between source conversations, leaving no presence trail during sensitive investigations.
Announcements
Use Broadcast to send encrypted updates to all contacts — meeting changes, alerts, or statements — without opening reply channels.
Research Phases
Researchers can alternate between Stealth during analysis and Normal during collaboration, controlling visibility at each phase.
Activism & Advocacy
Broadcast encrypted messages to supporter networks. Switch to Stealth when you need to lay low. Full control over your exposure.
🛡 Threat Model
What We Enforce
Communication Modes are built on the same zero-knowledge architecture as all City of Hats features.
Enforced by Architecture
- End-to-end encryption in every mode
- Per-Hat mode isolation
- Zero presence data in Stealth Mode
- Instant mode transitions with no data loss
- Broadcast delivery encrypted per recipient
- No server-side mode history logging
Never Allowed
- No metadata leakage during mode switches
- No forced mode changes by server or admin
- No cross-Hat mode inheritance
- No presence data stored while in Stealth
- No broadcast replies through broadcast channel
No system is invulnerable. Stating what we defend against — and where our boundaries are — is more credible than claiming absolute security. Learn More →
Platform
Learn More
Your Rules.Your Signal.
Control how every Hat communicates. Go invisible with Stealth, chat normally, or broadcast to many — all end-to-end encrypted. Switch modes instantly, per Hat.