The Executive Suite: The Best Encrypted Applications for Private Communications

Last year, the explosion of awareness around the NSA and their sneaky, spying tactics sent the entire web into a paranoid frenzy. Most of us always suspected that everything we write, chat about, and post was watched from on-high, but the PRISM scandal confirmed this suspicion, and to the vast majority of us, the harsh reality was worse than we imagined.

Since then, even the most innocent and trusting users have realized that nothing is sacred on the web. Microsoft, AT&T, and even Google are handing over data and transcripts to the government for the purpose of spying. The result: the prevalent fear that nothing on the web is private.

Not so fast. Let’s not forget that while plenty of intelligent folks who wish to spy on all digital correspondences have figured out how to do so effectively, plenty of other geniuses have concocted ways to keep our conversations safe. With security protocols like encryption becoming more
widespread, it is still possible to have at least some degree of privacy in communications, should you choose to make the effort.

Below are a list of some apps that do privacy very, very well. Note that no tool can promise complete security; even the most trusted and sophisticated examples have experienced breaches. Yet these apps are in fact much safer and more secure than their mainstream counterparts. If you have to share information that you’d prefer to keep between you and the recipient, here are a number of encrypted options.

Cryptocat – Chat in Private
Crude, simplistic, free, and adorably feline, Cyrptocat is a web extension for private instant
messaging. The tool has personality to spare, with fun facts about cats presented every time you load a new chat room. It works because the data you send is immediately encrypted, before it ever leaves your computer, mobile phone, or tablet. Data is so secure that Cryptocat’s own servers can’t decipher your messages, so you needn’t worry that they’ll go all rogue and start selling your secrets.

Still, the app is keen on making it clear that it isn’t 100% foolproof (no encrypted app can honestly claim to be, after all.) In their words:

“Cryptocat is not a magic bullet. Even though Cryptocat provides useful encryption, you should never trust any piece of software with your life, and Cryptocat is no exception.”

If you need a more private way to instant message, however, this graphically primitive but charming app is a home run.

Tor – Cultivate Online Anonymity
These days, it’s common practice for outside parties to spy on internet users, gathering data about sites they visit and content they download. Most of us are not aware of the extent to which this spying can expose us. The good news is, there’s a way to protect yourself.

Enter Tor. A free software app built by folks who value anonymity, Tor helps users defend against traffic analysis. The scrutiny of who and what you connect with in the digital space is a violation of your privacy. Tor helps to guard you from these prying eyes by bouncing all communications and surfing around a network of volunteers across the globe.

This prevents not only the ability for others to see what you’re accessing, it also stops the sites you visit from knowing your location. In other words, it helps you be a truly anonymous web citizen. Tor works with browsers and mobile phones, and the folks responsible also offer loads of related cryptography tools.

Hushmail – Guard Your Email
Hushmail first hit the scene back in 1999 when it was already evident how easy it was to spy on communications. Since then, they’ve had millions of private and business accounts created, all from people who want an added layer of privacy when it comes to email.

There’s nothing groundbreaking about Hushmail’s process; they simply offer web-based encrypted email services. Signup is free, and you can use your own domain, or opt to use a @hushmail.com address. Hushmail works on Android or iPhone operating systems, and integrates with Microsoft Outlook for those wishing to use a familiar user interface.

There are other more complicated ways to ensure even more sophisticated email encryption, but those methods tend to require a level of technical prowess. Hushmail is great as a first step into far more secure digital communications.

Viacrypt – Self-Destructive, One-Time Missives
Taking a page out of a James Bond movie, Viacrypt is the perfect tool for sending a totally secure message to any recipient.
The process is free and super simple. It works like this:

Access the website
Type any message you wish to send to a recipient
Click Save
Copy and paste the URL provided, and send to your selected recipient

This web address can then be accessed one time, and one time only. Once your chosen individual reads the message, it completely self-destructs, erasing any trace of its existence. The data is never stored once it is accessed. You can also opt to receive a notification when someone reads the message, ensuring your chosen recipient is the one who gains access. Note that if you visit the URL yourself, that counts as the single download, and your message will no longer be available.
Viacrypt is the perfect site for sending a truly private message to anyone, anywhere.

What other tools do you use to protect your privacy? How paranoid are you that your data is actually being logged and accessed?