{"id":470688,"date":"2022-07-04T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/"},"modified":"2022-07-04T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-04T12:00:00","slug":"the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/","title":{"rendered":"#The Best Free Ways to Send Encrypted Email and Secure Messages"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aef1055ce7e7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aef1055ce7e7\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#%E2%80%9CThe_Best_Free_Ways_to_Send_Encrypted_Email_and_Secure_Messages%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;The Best Free Ways to Send Encrypted Email and Secure Messages&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#Encryption_101\" >Encryption 101<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#ProtonMail_Email\" >ProtonMail (Email)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#Thunderbird_With_OpenPGP_Email\" >Thunderbird With OpenPGP (Email)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#Signal_Chat\" >Signal (Chat)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#Telegram_Chat\" >Telegram (Chat)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#WhatsApp_Chat\" >WhatsApp (Chat)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#Facebook_Messenger_Chat\" >Facebook Messenger (Chat)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#Apple_iMessage_Chat\" >Apple iMessage (Chat)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/#VeraCrypt_Files\" >VeraCrypt (Files)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CThe_Best_Free_Ways_to_Send_Encrypted_Email_and_Secure_Messages%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;The Best Free Ways to Send Encrypted Email and Secure Messages&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-814317\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Shutterstock_380217166.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Encrypted Header Image\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/lock-on-computer-chip-technology-security-380217166\">Evdokimov Maxim\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Internet makes it easier than ever to communicate with others. Within seconds, you can be chatting with someone on the other side of the planet. But what if you want to communicate or send files privately? You need to make sure that you\u2019re using encryption.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Encryption_101\"><\/span>Encryption 101<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/howto\/33949\/htg-explains-what-is-encryption-and-how-does-it-work\/\">Encryption, at its most basic, involves obfuscating information so that it cannot be read by anyone other than an intended recipient. An extremely basic example of encryption is assigning every letter of the alphabet a number \u2014 like a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, et cetera. You can then represent words as strings of numbers, and someone who didn\u2019t know what you\u2019d done wouldn\u2019t be able to read your message!<\/p>\n<p>Of course, that encryption algorithm is quite simple and easy to crack, but you can easily add complexity by shifting the assignment of letters and numbers around, adding nonsensical characters, and other things like that. Encryption methods of that sort have been in use for thousands of years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Is Encryption, and How Does It Work?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Modern encryption algorithm operate on similar conceptual principles, though the implementation is vastly more complex by necessity. Computers are <em>excellent\u00a0<\/em>at the kind of brute-force guess-and-check <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach that is often needed to decipher encrypted information. Luckily for all of us, it has proven easier to create new encryption algorithms than it has been to create computers powerful enough to break them.<\/p>\n<p>The strength of encryption depends on more than just the robustness of the algorithm, though. How you use encryption matters.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s say you\u2019re messaging someone using an app installed on your phone. The message is sent from your phone, to a central server, and then forwarded on to the recipient. If the message is encrypted while moving from you to the central server, and then from the central server to the recipient, the message is said to be encrypted \u201cin transit.\u201d In transit encryption is better than no encryption, but it means that the information you send may be readable by the central server.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Why You Should Use Peer-to-Peer Messaging Apps<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A more secure option is end-to-end encryption (E2EE). End-to-end encryption ensures that the information is encrypted by you, and can <em>only<\/em> be read by the intended recipient. No middleman can ever read the information you\u2019re exchanging. It isn\u2019t foolproof though \u2014 if an endpoint becomes compromised, your data will not be secure.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a collection of services that can be used to send end-to-end encrypted emails, messages, or files. All of the services listed here have been audited by third parties, so we can be relatively sure that they\u2019re secure.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ProtonMail_Email\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_1\">ProtonMail (Email)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/proton.me\/\">ProtonMail<\/a> is a secure email service based out of Switzerland. Everything you upload is stored encrypted, and emails you send are end-to-end encrypted. ProtonMail offers<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/proton.me\/pricing\"> a few different tiers<\/a> \u2014 a free account gets you a gigabyte of storage, a single email address, and 150 messages per day. If you pay for a premium account, you get more storage, access to more email addresses and a custom email domain, and unlimited messages.<\/p>\n<p>Proton also publishes\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/proton.me\/legal\/transparency\">transparency reports<\/a>, which outline how often they\u2019ve been required to hand over data to the Swiss government.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-814440 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/f7efa8fc-e11b-4d38-b431-150e2d6b87a1_proton-mail-end-to-end-encrypted-and-zero-access-encrypted-inbox-message-composer.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"ProtonMail account drafting an email.\" width=\"625\" height=\"498\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thunderbird_With_OpenPGP_Email\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">Thunderbird With OpenPGP (Email)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thunderbird.net\/en-US\/\">Thunderbird<\/a> is an email desktop client developed by Mozilla. It serves the same purpose as programs like Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail, and can fully integrate with almost any email service you use, including Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, and ProtonMail, among others.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Use OpenPGP Encryption for Emails in Thunderbird<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thunderbird has come packaged with Open Pretty Good Privacy, or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.openpgp.org\/\">OpenPGP<\/a>, built-in since August 2020. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.openpgp.org\/\">OpenPGP<\/a> is an encryption standard that allows users be sure of two important things: that the participants in an exchange are who they say they are, and that the information being exchanged is encrypted, and has not been tampered with in any way.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-814445 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/thunderburrddd.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The Thunderbird Main Screen.\" width=\"650\" height=\"390\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Signal_Chat\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_3\">Signal (Chat)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/signal.org\/download\/\">Signal<\/a> has become the defining app for encrypted, private communication. It supports text, multimedia messaging, video chat, and calls. Signal is secured using a robust encryption scheme called the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/signal.org\/docs\/\">Signal Protocol.<\/a> The Signal Protocol itself has been audited repeatedly by third parties, and has consistently received good marks. A history of good performance doesn\u2019t guarantee that the encryption scheme will remain effective in the future, but it is a positive sign.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a privacy-oriented messaging app with all the bells and whistles we\u2019ve come to expect, there is currently no better option than Signal.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-814400 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/SIGNAL.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Signal running on an Android phone.\" width=\"650\" height=\"470\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Telegram_Chat\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_4\">Telegram (Chat)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/telegram.org\/apps\">Telegram<\/a> \u2014 as the name might suggest \u2014 is another messaging app. Telegram supports voice and video chat, as well as regular text and multimedia messaging. It is important to note that you have to opt-in to the app\u2019s \u201cSecret Chat\u201d feature, but after that, all of your communications will be encrypted using their in-house <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/core.telegram.org\/mtproto\">MTProto protocol<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>PSA: Telegram Chats Aren&#8217;t End-to-End Encrypted by Default<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-814405 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/telegramandroid-1.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Telegram running on a cellphone. \" width=\"394\" height=\"482\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"WhatsApp_Chat\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_5\">WhatsApp (Chat)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/download\">WhatsApp<\/a> needs no introduction. It is the most widely used messaging app in the world, boasting more than 2 billion users. WhatsApp has had end-to-end encryption enabled by default for all conversations since 2016. All of the services offered by WhatsApp are encrypted, including text messaging, multimedia messaging, and voice and video calling. They have even added the option to encrypt your backups, which ensures your conversations stay private, even if the backup should fall into malicious hands.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> End-to-end encryption is not the end-all-be-all of privacy. WhatsApp changed its privacy terms in 2021 to a resoundingly negative response. While WhatsApp can\u2019t do anything with the content of your messages, it still collects metadata, and shares that metadata with its parent company, Meta.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-814403 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/187714031_1045351012664566_8001264446477762744_n-e1656428807169.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"WhatsApp chat screen example.\" width=\"265\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facebook_Messenger_Chat\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_6\">Facebook Messenger (Chat)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Facebook has never been the poster child for privacy, but that hasn\u2019t stopped it from making the occasional positive change. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.messenger.com%2F\">Facebook Messenger<\/a> \u2014 like WhatsApp \u2014 supports end-to-end encrypted messaging using the Signal Protocol. That means that as long as the endpoints are properly secured, your conversations should remain private.<\/p>\n<p>It isn\u2019t enabled in Messenger by default, however. You have to go into a conversation\u2019s settings to enable it.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> Just because the contents of a message are encrypted doesn\u2019t mean that Facebook can\u2019t collect metadata about your conversations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Encrypt Your Facebook Messages with &#8220;Secret Conversation&#8221; Mode<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-814406 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/120939741_777360753058516_6246407658227249935_n-1-e1656429137699.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Facebook Messenger App on Mobile.\" width=\"308\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apple_iMessage_Chat\"><\/span>Apple iMessage (Chat)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple\u2019s iMessage is immensely popular, and for good reason. iMessage has supported a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/803370\/dear-android-users-imessage-is-better-than-you-think\/\">host of advanced features for years, including chat reactions, reliable read receipts, and end-to-end encryption. It comes standard on every iPhone as the default texting app \u2014 other iPhone users are famously blue, while all others are green. The color difference is more than cosmetic, it actually tells you some important information. Blue chat bubbles indicate \u2014 among other things \u2014 that the message was encrypted between you and the recipient over iMessage, whereas green messages have been transmitted using conventional SMS, which is notoriously insecure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Why SMS Needs to Die<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The seamless integration of iMessage with the iPhone, combined with the bevy of features and end-to-end encryption make it an alluring app, even for Android users.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-814418 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/ios15-iphone12-pro-messages-pin-message-e1656429729398.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"iMessage example showing pinned conversations or contacts.\" width=\"331\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VeraCrypt_Files\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_8\">VeraCrypt (Files)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.veracrypt.fr\/code\/VeraCrypt\/\">VeraCrypt<\/a> is a fork of the open-source project TrueCrypt. Veracrypt \u2014 like TrueCrypt before it \u2014 offers a simple and powerful way to encrypt everything from system drives to backup discs to individual files. It serves a very different function from the other applications listed in this article. Those applications are primarily designed to provide end-to-end encrypted communication, whereas VeraCrypt is designed to allow you to encrypt your files.<\/p>\n<p>VeraCrypt works by creating a virtual encrypted disk that is mounted like a real hard drive. Once the encrypted virtual disk has been created, you can move and create files just like you would in any other file system. Once you\u2019re done, you can store the encrypted files for later, or transmit them, knowing that no one can snoop on what you\u2019re doing. You can even hide all of your data in a VeraCrypt Hidden Volume, if you want to be extra careful.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, the file\u2019s recipient needs to have the VeraCrypt software installed and the password used to protect the file in order to open it.<\/p>\n<p>VeraCrypt is much more hands-on than the messaging apps in this article, so getting started with VeraCrypt takes a bit more time.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-814414 \" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/2022-06-28_11h17_13.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The VeraCrypt main screen with an encrypted drive mounted.\" width=\"593\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>While there are a lot of services out there promising to securely transmit messages, the above ones are the ones we recommend and trust. Some options like Gmail\u2019s \u201cconfidential mode\u201d aren\u2019t actually as secure as you might think, while we recommend avoiding lesser-known services that don\u2019t have a strong track record and reputation for privacy and security.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/135638\/the-best-free-ways-to-send-encrypted-email-and-secure-messages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The Best Free Ways to Send Encrypted Email and Secure Messages&#8221; Evdokimov Maxim\/Shutterstock.com The Internet makes it easier than ever to communicate with others. Within seconds, you can be chatting with someone on the other side of the planet. But what if you want to communicate or send files privately? You need to make sure&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":470689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Shutterstock_380217166.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-470688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/470689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}