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

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When comparing Tox vs Email a Data & Filename encrypted .7z file (7-Zip), 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 Tox is ranked 6th. 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
Privacy focused

Tox uses military grade encryption and works completely peer-to-peer.

Pro
Free and open source

The code is licensed under GPL (may change in the future) and is available on GitHub.

Pro
Multiple front-ends for multiple platforms available

At the moment there is no official Tox client, but a selection of 32 and 64 clients for Windows, OS X, Linux and Android is available.

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.

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Cons

Con
Early stages of development

Since Tox is relatively new, it has important features missing (like group video) and requires a proper code review before it can be deemed reliable and ready for everyday use.

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.