When comparing File Camouflage 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 File Camouflage is ranked 8th. 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 Hides file in JPEG image
File Camouflage allows you to encrypt your sensitive information and then after hide it in the JPEG image of your choice. With this program an innocent family photo or photo of your pet can be used to disguise your most sensitive encrypted information.
Pro Effective second level of protection
File Camouflage is an effective second level of protection. After encrypting and password protecting your sensitive information with AES, File Camouflage makes sure only your intended recipient knows there is even a file to decrypt by hiding it in a JPEG.
Pro Easy to use
Hiding your sensitive information with File Camouflage is extremely easy. The whole process is explained very well even for an inexperienced user.
Pro Free
Pro Ability to send an EXE file via email
Many email providers are not able to send EXE files but File Camouflage not only protects it but allows the file to be sent.
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 Encourages improper use of steganography
To hide a file in an image you need two things:
One, that the attacker cannot find the source image i.e. it has to be an image made by the user (preferably a photograph of a visually complex scene) and never put on the internet (using the pac_tron image would render the use of steganography moot, as the attacker can merely subtract a suspect image from a copy of the source image) and
two, that the file to be hidden is smaller than the cover image. With the best techniques today you can embed a file about 10% of the size of the cover image. The example in the doc hides a file 21,500% of the size of the cover image.
If you use steganography improperly you get no security, esp. as governments believe senior terrorists use steganography and thus search for it very, very, carefully.
Con Frequently prompts you to donate
File Camouflage is free although the developer does proclaim it "donationware." As a result the program frequently and annoyingly begs that you donate.
Con Requires both sender and recipient to use File Camouflage
In order for the recipient to receive the intended information they have to download and use File Camouflage.