Use These Before They're Banned: 7 Encrypted Services

About this video

• Video Title: Use These Before They're Banned: 7 Encrypted Services
• Channel: Techlore
• Speakers: [None specified in transcript]
• Duration: 00:13:54

Overview

This video highlights seven categories of encrypted services that the speaker believes are essential for privacy and security in light of global attacks on encryption. The purpose is to inform viewers about recommended encrypted tools across password management, messaging, email, VPNs, cloud storage, file encryption, and notes/docs/photos, providing individual recommendations within each category.

Key takeaways

• Password Managers: Essential for generating strong, unique passwords and improving usability. Recommendations include KeePass (open-source, flexible, DIY), Proton Pass (open-source, encrypted, user-friendly, integrates with email aliases), Bitwarden (open-source), and 1Password (not open-source, but popular and reputable).
• Messaging Apps: Signal is recommended for its balance of usability, privacy, and security. More hardcore options include Session and SimpleX (decentralized, with usability trade-offs), and Briar (peer-to-peer, Tor-based). Threema is a paid, usable, and secure option. WhatsApp is advised against.
• Email Providers: Proton Mail and Tuta are recommended for private email, with Proton Mail being a user-friendly, well-regarded option and Tuta being entirely open-source with strong encryption. Startmail is also mentioned for its usability and encryption, though it lacks free plans and isn't open-source.
• VPN Services: Mullvad VPN and IVPN are top recommendations for privacy, accepting Monero, being open-source, and following best practices. Proton VPN is a solid choice, especially if already in the Proton ecosystem. Windscribe is presented as a more mainstream-friendly option with open-source components.
• Cloud Storage: NextCloud is a self-hosted, open-source option with end-to-end encrypted tools. Proton Drive and Filen are recommended for a more traditional, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage experience. Mega is noted for its source-available code and encryption efforts.
• File Encryption: Cryptomator is recommended for adding end-to-end encryption to existing cloud storage services like Google Drive. Veracrypt is useful for creating encrypted containers and full disk encryption on local storage. Operating system tools like FileVault (macOS) and BitLocker (Windows) are also advised for full disk encryption.
• Notes, Docs, & Photos: Cryptee offers encrypted notes, docs, and photos in a minimal web interface. Ente is a recommended end-to-end encrypted photo library replacement. Notesnook provides open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes. Proton Docs (within Proton Drive) and CryptPad offer encrypted document creation and storage. Standard Notes is another popular open-source option for encrypted notes.
• Honorable Mentions: The Proton ecosystem is presented as a comprehensive "Swiss army knife" solution, covering many categories. The Apple ecosystem with Advanced Data Protection enabled is noted as a viable option for those already invested, encrypting most iCloud data.