When comparing Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) vs Chatlink.com, the Slant community recommends Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) for most people. In the question“What are the best ways to transmit sensitive information over the Internet?” Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) is ranked 5th while Chatlink.com is ranked 19th. The most important reason people chose Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) is:
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.
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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 Even the website owners have no access to the data
Because the encryption keys are generated in client browser and never sent to the server.
Pro All communiction is also encrypted with AES-256
All this encryption takes place at client side, so that even the server administrators have no access to the data.
Pro No need to install anything
Pro All communication is protected with TLS (SSL)
Pro No need to create an account
But creating an account can be useful, too: while having an account the key exchange can be done through public key cryptography.
Pro You can delete messages any time
Pro Chatlink.com does not track or follow you in any way
It does not save any cookies or have any external links (like Google Adwords for example) that could track you.
Pro Chatlink.com is open source
The source code is available here. Being open source allows anyone to audit the code.
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