Don’t let anyone get access to your secrets

Today’s digital world makes our communications more vulnerable. Hackers, data breaches, and government surveillance make it almost impossible to have a private conversation nowadays. It is possible to reclaim some privacy and safeguard your sensitive communications.

Problem with regular messaging apps

• Metadata Collection: Even if the content of your messages is encrypted, the metadata (who you messaged, when, etc.) usually resides with the app provider. This metadata reveals a lot about your contacts, habits, and relationships.
• Third-Party Access: Messaging apps may share data with advertisers, apps, and other third parties. Some even have keys to decrypt certain content.
• Hackable Servers: The servers that store message data are hacked, leading to data breaches.
• Weak Default Encryption: Some apps use weak encryption or leave important messages unencrypted by default. Stronger encryption may need manual activation.
• SMS Texting: SMS messages have no encryption at all and pass through carrier servers unsecured.
• Backups: Backups of your messages to the cloud also be hacked or subject to searches.
• Device Security: If your device is infected with malware or stolen, your messages could be compromised.

So while convenient, most standard messaging apps leave a lot to desire in regards to privacy. But there are better options.

Encrypt sensitive text files

What about text content you want to keep long-term but still keep private, like passwords, financial info, or confidential documents?

• Use encryption software or apps like VeraCrypt, Cryptomator, and BoxCryptor to encrypt text files or whole folders. It scrambles the contents to make them unreadable.
• To access encrypted files, you’ll need to enter your password or decryption key. Don’t lose your key or you may never recover the files!
• For easy access across devices, store encrypted files in cloud storage services like Dropbox or iCloud. Just be sure to use long, complex passwords.
• On mobile devices, use a secure note-taking app like Standard Notes, Obsidian, or Joplin to encrypt individual notes or notebooks.
• Turn on auto-locking so encrypted files require authentication again after a set period of inactivity.
• For extreme security, encrypt files locally first before uploading to cloud storage.

By encrypting important text files end-to-end, you ensure their confidentiality and prevent unauthorized access – even from the storage providers themselves. Check out privatemessage.net for more information about the service if you need it.

Use private message boxes for anonymous tips

If you need to receive confidential, anonymous messages from third parties, private message boxes let you do so securely:

• Journalists, officials, and organizations often run message boxes to field tips without revealing sources.
• Those leaving messages do so anonymously, with content kept private from third parties.
• Popular private message box services include SecureDrop, GlobaLeaks, and StrongBox. These provide encrypted communication and strip metadata.
• Admins receive and respond to messages confidentially through a hidden service or Tor access point.

So if you need to open up private channels of communication for things like confidential tips, private message boxes offer a more ethical and secure method than unencrypted email and messaging.