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Encrypted email service?

  • 06-10-2015 7:23pm
    #1
    jungleman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 803 ✭✭✭


    Just wondering if anyone knows of any good email providers who use encryption? As in, whatever I send or receive is changed from words to a jumble of impenetrable numbers whilst in transit, and returned to word format once opened by the recipient.

    Are there any email providers out there who offer this? At least, who haven't been compromised by intelligence agencies?

    It's not that I'm sending or receiving sensitive or illegal data, far from it. I just want to move away from Gmail, away from Google, and would prefer it if they and other such companies had as little data about me as possible. It's kind of unsettling how much they actually know about people.

    Any suggestions or help will be appreciated!!


Comments

  • #2
    Dozen Wicked Words
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,325 ✭✭✭✭Dozen Wicked Words


    https://protonmail.ch

    Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for though.


  • #3
    jungleman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 803 ✭✭✭jungleman


    Thanks a million for that! I read a few articles about it, I think it's exactly what I'm looking for. It has end-to-end encryption, doesn't sell data and they don't keep IP logs.

    Gmail has been wrecking my head with their IP logging lately. Mind your own business like, if I decide to check my emails somewhere other than my home, there's no need to send me an email about it. I hate that they pretend to be concerned about my privacy, when all they're doing is compiling data and meta data.

    ANYWAY, rant over. Cheers for the heads up about Protonmail, I have found a new email service provider!


  • #4
    Dozen Wicked Words
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,325 ✭✭✭✭Dozen Wicked Words


    Only downside is if you don't pay to support you'll wait a bit for your email address.


  • #5
    jungleman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 803 ✭✭✭jungleman


    Haha yeah I just saw that when I signed up! I'm a broke student, so I'll wait the few weeks. Hopefully this time next year I'll be in a position to make a donation, I've no problems with that at all. Fair play to them, privacy is worth paying a few bob for.


  • #6
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,969 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    Have you looked at PGP/GPG?

    GPG can be integrated into both Gmail and Outlook. Though it does make searching for emails difficult/impossible.


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  • #7
    anvilfour
    Closed Accounts Posts: 720 ✭✭✭anvilfour


    syklops wrote: »
    Have you looked at PGP/GPG?

    GPG can be integrated into both Gmail and Outlook. Though it does make searching for emails difficult/impossible.

    Good call syklops,

    My worry about these encryption in a box solutions from e-mail providers is that in the nature of things the keys to encrypt/decrypt messages are kept on their own servers.

    This led to an e-mail provider named Hushmail, founded by Phil Zimmerman who as you know invented PGP being able to cooperate with the Feds when they need to decrypt messages.

    You are much better off encrypting/decrypting your messages offline using gpg. One very easy to use program is GPG4USB which is easy to set up, works in Linux and Windows and has a built in text editor so you can do everything from within the app.

    Happy encrypting!


  • #8
    jungleman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 803 ✭✭✭jungleman


    I'm a fairly tech savvy guy, but what exactly is PGP/GPG? Is it a software I install, like an extension to my current email?


  • #9
    anvilfour
    Closed Accounts Posts: 720 ✭✭✭anvilfour


    jungleman wrote: »
    I'm a fairly tech savvy guy, but what exactly is PGP/GPG? Is it a software I install, like an extension to my current email?

    Hi jungleman,

    You're right in saying they're both extra software programs. Gpg is a free version of PGP but as I understand it there is a basic free version of pgp as well.

    If you use an application to check your e-mails then there might be an extension you can install to integrate gpg. I know there is gpgmail for Mac and Thunderbird also has an extension named Enigmail. I believe there are plugins for Microsoft Outlook too.

    If you're new to gpg probably best to work through the FAQ's here:

    https://www.gnupg.org/faq/gnupg-faq.html#glossary

    Let us/me know if you have any further questions! :)


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