When comparing Email + PGP vs Chatlink.com, the Slant community recommends Email + PGP for most people. In the question“What are the best ways to transmit sensitive information over the Internet?” Email + PGP is ranked 1st while Chatlink.com is ranked 19th. The most important reason people chose Email + PGP is:
The original version of PGP is no longer freeware since it was aquired by Symantec, but the source code can still be [downloaded](http://www.symantec.com/connect/downloads/symantec-pgp-desktop-peer-review-source-code) for peer review.
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Pros
Pro Code available for audit
The original version of PGP is no longer freeware since it was aquired by Symantec, but the source code can still be downloaded for peer review.
Pro Many implementations available
PGP is a protocol and not an application per se. It offers a standard on which applications can implement to offer full encryption.
Pro No need to exchange private keys
PGP uses asymmetric encryption. One user generates 2 keys - private and public. Another user uses the public key to encrypt the message that can then be decrypted only using first users's private key.
Pro Can be integrated with multiple email clients
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 Can be daunting to set up
If your email client doesn't support PGP encryption, decrypting e-mails ca be dauting, especially if you want to stay away from command line.
Con Your contacts also need PGP
It's difficult to make all your contacts use PGP. Not everyone is 'privacy focused' and willing to learn/implement PGP.