Open Source Encryption Tools to Protect #Privacy #nsa
I was totally unprepared for today’s bombshell revelations describing the NSA’s efforts to defeat encryption. Not only does the worst possible hypothetical I discussed appear to be true, but it’s true on a scale I couldn’t even imagine. I’m no longer the crank. I wasn’t even close to cranky enough.Source: On the NSA
For all the cranks out there, a concise list of my free open source software (FOSS) favorites. All these solutions take advantage of AES-256 encryption.
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Non-US-based Encrypted email service providers:
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Email client with PGP/GPG Support:
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Use Thunderbird with Enigmail
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For encrypting email messages:
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Fourmilab’s web page (save it on your computer locally) on your own computer to encrypt text messages. Use secure passwords.
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For files/folders:
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Secure Space Encryptor (SSE) tool (lets you encrypt folders of files into one). Runs on Win/Mac/Linux. Watch this video.
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AESCrypt.com (encrypts file by file, available for Win/Mac/Linux)
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and, if you don’t want people to glean information from the filenames, use Truecrypt.org.
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Axantum AxCrypt (open source) - works great on Windows, not so much on other platforms (unless you’re using WINE)
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For passwords security:
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KeepassX and never save your Keepassx file on Dropbox or anywhere in cloud.
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For encrypted chat/messaging sessions (good luck with this…encrypt your text on top of this):
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CryptoCat - Private Encrypted chats
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OTR - Off The Record instant messaging (encrypted)
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Security in a browser is doubtful but if you must:
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Use Tor Browser Project (the 2.4 version, not 2.3) to protect your location; it comes with HTTPS Everywhere
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Browser add-ons:
- AdBlock for Firefox/Chrome - Blocks banners, pop-ups and video ads - even on Facebook and YouTube and Protects your online privacy
- Facebook Privacy List for Adblock Plus - Enhances AdBlock Plus.
- Facebook Disconnect for Chrome and Firefox - Facebook is notified whenever you visit one of the more than one million sites on the web that use Facebook Connect and has a history of leaking personally-identifiable information to third parties. This turns off data flow.
- Priv3 for Firefox - The Priv3 Firefox extension lets you remain logged in to the social networking sites you use and still browse the web, knowing that those third-party sites only learn where you go on the web when you want them to.
- Ghostery - Ghostery looks for third-party page elements (or “trackers”) on the web pages you visit and notifies you that these things are present, and which companies operate them. If you wish, choose to block the trackers they operate.
- Do Not Track Plus, and for fun,
- HTTPS Everywhere
Check out Miguel’s Workshop Materials online at http://mglearns.wikispaces.com
Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure
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