When comparing Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) vs Element (formerly Riot), the Slant community recommends Element (formerly Riot) for most people. In the question“What are the best ways to transmit sensitive information over the Internet?” Element (formerly Riot) is ranked 2nd while Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Element (formerly Riot) is:
You're not confined within Element's or even Matrix garden, and you don't have to make users of other networks switch to Matrix.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro 7-Zip is free and open-source
One of the best programs to encrypt .zip files is a free and open source program called 7-Zip. Although there are many other options out there such as WinZip, many cost money.
Pro AES-256 encryption
7-Zip can encrypt files with extremely secure AES-256 encryption. AES is used by governments and businesses and is believed to be impossible to crack with today's technology at least. AES-256 has 1.1x10^77 combinations.
Pro Password protected
The encrypted file cannot be viewed without the same password inputted by the sender in the encryption process and the recipient in the decryption process. Although this password is another bit of sensitive information to transfer this may be a good solution if the sender and recipient can meet once for the password and then use password protected encrypted .7z files for future information transfers.
Pro Bridges to other networks
You're not confined within Element's or even Matrix garden, and you don't have to make users of other networks switch to Matrix.
Pro Markdown support
Code snippets in chats can be highlighted with Markdown.
Pro Simple interface
Element has a very simple interface, adding the ability for more inexperienced users to use it.
Pro VOIP and Videoconferencing
Pro Supports encryption
Element allows for fully encrypted text, voice, and video chatting.
Pro Widgets support
Want to watch that flick at YouTube and discuss it at the same time? Have Grafana graphs stacked above your DevOps team chat? Collaboratively edit Google Docs and chat over without switching applications? This is possible with Element.
Pro Decentralized
An open network for secure, decentralized communication.
Pro Self-hosting and federated network
Pro Libre/open source
Pro Search
Search messages in your current room, or all the rooms you're in. Not subject to a message history limit like Slack.
Pro Cross platform
Web browser
Linux
OS X
Windows
Android
iOS
Pro Large existing community
With public rooms for many people, and you can create your own and let people from the community join.
Pro Etherpad real-time document collaboration
An easy to activate integration that allows multiple authors to edit a document simultaneously.
Pro File Sharing
Pro Supports text, voice, video
Cons
Con Encrypted .zips are suspicious
It is rather suspicious for an encrypted zip file to be found in your email. If it is seriously important, people can find a way to coerce you to give over the password. A steganography technique is important if secrecy is of utmost important.
Con Both the sender and recipient need an encryption program
Not only does the sender need an encryption program to encrypt the file, but the recipient needs an encryption program to open it.
Windows provides a basic level of encryption natively without AES, but most users craving security will want to use a more advanced utility with AES such as 7-Zip. If the recipient is not good with computers this may be difficult.
Con The standard encyption method ZipCrypto is unsecure
Be sure to select AES encryption instead of the standard and much less secure ZipCrypto encryption. And use .7z files with Filename encryption, to prevent anyone from even viewing the contents and filenames, instead of .zip files, which can only encrypt Data.
Con Zips are not made for this
Zips are there the compress and not to securely transmit