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Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) vs TextSecure

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When comparing Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip) vs TextSecure, 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 TextSecure is ranked 9th. 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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Common Questions

What are the best ways to transmit sensitive information over the Internet?

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
Strong encryption

Uses Curve25519, AES-256, and HMAC-SHA256. The security of these algorithms has been tested over many years of use in hundreds of different applications. Messages sent via TextSecure are end-to-end encrypted, which means that they can only be read by your intended recipients. We make it easy for you to verify that you are communicating with the right people and that no MITM attack has occurred. The keys that are used to encrypt your messages are stored on your device alone, and they are protected by an additional layer of encryption if you have a passphrase enabled.

Pro
Free and open source

TextSecure is free and open source, enabling anyone to verify its security by auditing the code. TextSecure is the only private messenger that uses open source peer-reviewed cryptographic protocols to keep your messages safe.

Pro
Passed EFF's security review

To pass EFF's security review TextSecure had to encrypt data in transit, the encryption had to be end-to-end, the app needed to provide forward secrecy, app's source code has to be open to independent review, users have to be able to verify contact's identities even with the service provider compromised, app's cryptographic design has to be well documented and app's source code has to have been audited in the last 12 months.

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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.