When comparing Signal vs Email an encrypted .EXE file (AxCrypt), the Slant community recommends Signal for most people. In the question“What are the best ways to transmit sensitive information over the Internet?” Signal is ranked 4th while Email an encrypted .EXE file (AxCrypt) is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose Signal is:
Signal uses an advanced end to end encryption protocol that provides privacy for every message every time.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Provides security and privacy
Signal uses an advanced end to end encryption protocol that provides privacy for every message every time.
Pro Free and open source
Signal is free and open source software, enabling anyone to verify its security by auditing the code. It's the only private messenger that uses open source, peer-reviewed cryptographic protocols to keep your messages safe.
Pro Supports encrypted group chats
Pro Has a desktop app
Signal Desktop can be used on multiple devices and has most features of the Android version, although it still requires you to register with your phone.
Pro Supports sharing of various different media types
Signal supports: emoji, pictures, videos, audio, contacts, any location and GIF.
Pro Note to Self feature
Allows you to "send: messages to yourself and sync to desktop so you can use Signal as a kind of encrypted Pushbullet alternative
Pro You can easily view all media exchanged
You can easily view all media shared in the chat without scrolling back to when it was shared.
Pro Annonymous Sender (Encrypted)
The sender credentials can be encrypted with the rest of the message, leaving only the recipient address readable by the Signal server. Even if Signal wanted they couldn't see who is talking with who by this mean.
Pro Works everywhere in every country
Unlike most messenger apps, Signal works reliably in all countries by securely circumventing internet censorship.
Pro Recommended by Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden uses this messenger and recommends it to everyone who is concerned about his privacy.
Pro Free and open source
AxCrypt is free and open source. This is beneficial because anyone can examine the source code and check for errors.
Pro No recipient software needed if emailed as .EXE.TXT
After selecting "Encrypt copy to .EXE," rename the file to ".EXE.TXT" in order to bypass email provider restrictions on sending .EXE files. Windows will then warn you that the file will become unusable but ignore it and continue to email the file. All the recipient needs to do upon arrival is rename the file back to .EXE and ignore the Windows warning message. Then simply open the self extracting file and type in the agreed upon password between the sender and recipient. This is a great advantage of AxCrypt because it does not force your recipient to download any software.
Pro Available at right click
AxCrypt is an extremely convenient encryption program because it is always available at a single right click.
Pro Password protected and optional key-file
AxCrypt encrypts each file with a passphrase and an optional key-file. Transferring a key-file (that AxCrypt can generate for you) on a separate medium and the password on another medium to your recipient is the most secure option. Although a strong password alone will do. The only caveat is that the password and key file must be transferred to your recipient and the most secure way to transfer it is physically.
Pro Once created, does not depend on other software
As long as you have the password or keyfile to your encrypted file then you can still access it. This is beneficial if the software ever becomes unsupported.
Cons
Con Needs access to your phone number and contacts to work
Con Single device
Signal can only be registered to one mobile device at a time. But you can link Signal to Signal Desktop.
Con Servers hosted in the US
A security risk due to National Security letters, which require giving up data to the US state, and making it illegal to disclose that.
Con Unreliable notifications
Sometimes messages won't be received if the Signal app has been closed for a long time or hasn't been opened after booting the device.
Con Windows-only
The receiver has to be running Microsoft Windows (or a binary compatible system, like Wine).
Con Opening an .EXE file may worry some recipients
Some recipients will be cautious of opening an .EXE and may end up ignoring it. It is a good idea to inform them in advance that you will be sending an .EXE and it is safe. Another precaution is to sign the email so the recipient knows that is you.
Con Anti-virus will likely block it
Most anti-virus block or strongly warn again executable in emails. You'll likely have to rename the file and so will the end user.
Con Untrusted / not signed
Unless it's signed (i.e., you can somehow validate the signature of the attached EXE file via another method) the EXE may actually be compromized (e.g., man in the middle) and do anything on your machine as your run it.
Con AES-128 encryption
AES-128 encryption is still extremely secure but it is a lower and more outdated level of protection than what other encryption programs such as 7-Zip offer.
