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The Essential Guide to Encryption: What It Is and How to Do It
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Encrypt your data: files and folders
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Encrypt your data: communication
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Encrypt your data: Navigation
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Encrypt your data: Devices
Chat completely securely on WhatsApp
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to keep its messages private, something Home Secretary Amber Rudd called “completely unacceptable” in March before backtracking. WhatsApp protection means that as long as you and the person you’re chatting with are using the latest version of the app, all communications are secure and not even WhatsApp itself can see them. Encryption is enabled in the app by default; no need to enable it manually. However, if you want to check that your messages are secure,
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select “View Contact.”
- Under Encryption, you should see a notice that all chats and calls are secure.
- To verify this, click on the note and scan the QR code displayed on your contact’s phone, or vice versa.
Secret conversations in Messenger
Secret Conversations is a useful hidden feature in Facebook Messenger for Android and iOS that allows you to send end-to-end encrypted messages to your friends. The option is not enabled by default and you must start a new private conversation (rather than simply continuing an existing thread) to use it. Also, it doesn’t work in group chats.
Facebook’s Secret Conversations feature lets you encrypt your chats
To start a secret conversation:
- Open the Messenger app and tap the compose message icon at the top right of the screen.
- Tap the lock icon in the top right corner.
- Choose a friend from your contacts.
- Tap the message box and start typing your message. The recipient must agree to engage in a secret conversation with you.
Text and call securely using Signal
A growing number of chat apps, including the aforementioned WhatsApp and Facebook, use end-to-end encryption to keep your conversations private, but Signal (whispersystems.org) is more secure than most. This free app, used and recommended by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, stores no information about its users and allows you to securely chat with contacts in your existing phone and address book.
Available for both iOS and Android, the app allows you to send hack-proof text messages, images, and videos to inpiduals or groups, and also make secure phone calls. More recently, the developer added support for end-to-end encrypted video calls.
Secure your Gmail messages
Although Gmail offers encryption over an HTTPS connection when you read and write messages, it doesn’t encrypt them while they’re in transit. You can significantly increase your privacy by installing the CryptUp (cryptup.org) extension for Chrome and Firefox, which protects messages and attachments sent through Gmail in your browser using PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) end-to-end encryption. It works by adding a secure compose button to Gmail so you can quickly send secure messages whenever you need to. If your recipient doesn’t have CryptUp or any other email encryption installed, you can protect their messages or files with a password.
Add end-to-end encryption to Gmail messages by installing CryptUp
The CryptUp developer plans to release apps for Android and iOS, along with an Outlook add-on, later this year.
Encrypt your email backups
MailStore backs up all your emails and works with any email provider, including Gmail and Outlook.com. Simply select the services to back up and you’ll get to work. You can password protect files and the software completely encrypts all databases so that no one but you can see the messages.
