Syme, a social network that promised Ello-like privacy, has gone dark

Ello is still a small operation, run by a guy in Vermont who also owns a bike company.

Syme was operated by three students at McGill University in Montreal; perhaps their studies got in the way.

Other social networking or messaging apps promising privacy that are still alive include Cryptocat, Gliph and Wickr.

Zach Miners covers social networking, search and general technology news for IDG News Service. Follow Zach on Twitter at @zachminers. Zach's e-mail address is zach_miners@idg.com