Privacy-Conscious Email Providers - No Affiliates
Interesting Email Providers Under Development
- Confidant Mail - An open-source non-SMTP cryptographic email system optimized for large file attachments. It is a secure and spam-resistant alternative to regular email and online file drop services. It uses GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) for content encryption and authentication, and TLS 1.2 with ephemeral keys for transport encryption.
Become Your Own Email Provider with Mail-in-a-Box
Take it a step further and get control of your email with this easy-to-deploy mail server in a box. Mail-in-a-Box lets you become your own mail service provider in a few easy steps. It's sort of like making your own Gmail, but one you control from top to bottom. Technically, Mail-in-a-Box turns a fresh cloud computer into a working mail server. But you don't need to be a technology expert to set it up. More: https://mailinabox.email/
Privacy Email Tools
- gpg4usb - A very easy to use and small portable editor to encrypt and decrypt any text-message or -file. For Windows and Linux. GPG tutorial.
- Mailvelope - A browser extension that enables the exchange of encrypted emails following the OpenPGP encryption standard.
- Enigmail - A security extension to Thunderbird and Seamonkey. It enables you to write and receive email messages signed and/or encrypted with the OpenPGP standard.
- TorBirdy - This extension configures Thunderbird to make connections over the Tor anonymity network.
- Email Privacy Tester - This tool will send an Email to your address and perform privacy-related tests.
Related Information
- Aging 'Privacy' Law Leaves Cloud E-Mail Open to Cops - Data stored in the cloud for longer than 6 months is considered abandoned and may be accessed by intelligence agencies without a warrant. Learning: Use an external email client like Thunderbird or Enigmail, download your emails and store them locally. Never leave them on the server.
- With May First/Riseup Server Seizure, FBI Overreaches Yet Again
- Autistici/Inventati server compromised - The cryptographic services offered by the Autistici/Inventati server have been compromised on 15th June 2004. It was discovered on 21st June 2005. One year later. During an enquiry on a single mailbox, the Postal Police may have tapped for a whole year every user's private communication going through the server autistici.org/inventati.org.
Email Clients
Worth Mentioning
- K-9 Mail - An independent mail application for Android. It supports both POP3 and IMAP mailboxes, but only supports push mail for IMAP.
- GNU Privacy Guard - Email Encryption. GnuPG is a GPL Licensed alternative to the PGP suite of cryptographic software. Tutorial. Use GPGTools for macOS.
- Mailpile (Beta) - A modern, fast web-mail client with user-friendly encryption and privacy features.
Email Alternatives
Privacy Respecting Search Engines
Firefox Addon
- Google search link fix - Firefox extension that prevents Google and Yandex search pages from modifying search result links when you click them. This is useful when copying links but it also helps privacy by preventing the search engines from recording your clicks. (Open Source)
Worth Mentioning
- Qwant - Qwant's philosophy is based on two principles: no user tracking and no filter bubble. Qwant was launched in France in February 2013. Privacy Policy.
- MetaGer - An open source metasearch engine, which is based in Germany. It focuses on protecting the user's privacy.
Encrypted Instant Messenger
Worth Mentioning
- ChatSecure - ChatSecure is a free and open source messaging app that features OTR encryption over XMPP.
- Cryptocat - Encrypted open source messenger. Supports file sharing and multiple devices. Available for Windows, Linux and macOS.
- Kontalk - A community-driven instant messaging network. Supports end-to-end encryption. Both client-to-server and server-to-server channels are fully encrypted.
- Conversations - An open source Jabber/XMPP client for Android 4.4+ smartphones. Supports end-to-end encryption with either OMEMO or openPGP. There is also Conversations Legacy which still supports OTR.
- Wire experimental (more info) - A free software End-to-End Encrypted chatting application that supports instant messaging, voice, and video calls.
- List of OTR Clients - Wikipedia
Related Information
- Ricochet, the Messenger That Beats Metadata, Passes Security Audit | Motherboard
- Chatting in Secret While We're All Being Watched - firstlook.org
- Advanced users with special needs can download the Signal APK directly. Most users should not do this under normal circumstances.
- Telegram encryption isn't secure.
- Telegram is marketed as a private messenger, but it's not private by default.
Encrypted Video & Voice Messenger
Caution: The company keeps a list of all the users you contact until you delete your account." %} {% include card.html color="warning" title="Linphone" image="assets/img/tools/Linphone.png" url="https://www.linphone.org/" footer="OS: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Linux, Windows, macOS, Browser (Web)" description="Linphone is an open source SIP Phone and a free voice over IP service, available on mobile and desktop environments and on web browsers. It supports ZRTP for end-to-end encrypted voice and video communication." %}
Worth Mentioning
- Jitsi - Jitsi is a free and open source multiplatform voice (VoIP), videoconferencing and instant messaging application.
- Tox - Experimental A free and open-source, peer-to-peer, encrypted instant messaging and video calling software.
- Ring (formerly SFLphone) - Gives you a full control over your communications and an unmatched level of privacy.
Related Information
- Advanced users with special needs can download the Signal APK directly. Most users should not do this under normal circumstances.
- Secure Messaging App Wire Stores Everyone You've Ever Contacted in Plain Text | Motherboard
File Sharing
Encrypted Cloud Storage Services
Related Information
- Cryptomator - Free client-side AES encryption for your cloud files. Open source software: No backdoors, no registration.
Self-Hosted Cloud Server Software
Secure Hosting Provider
Secure File Sync Software
Worth Mentioning
- git-annex - Allows managing files with git, without checking the file contents into git. While that may seem paradoxical, it is useful when dealing with files larger than git can currently easily handle, whether due to limitations in memory, time, or disk space.
Password Manager Software
Worth Mentioning
- Master Password - Master Password is based on an ingenious password generation algorithm that guarantees your passwords can never be lost. Its passwords aren't stored: they are generated on-demand from your name, the site and your master password. No syncing, backups or internet access needed.
- Password Safe - Whether the answer is one or hundreds, Password Safe allows you to safely and easily create a secured and encrypted username/password list. With Password Safe all you have to do is create and remember a single "Master Password" of your choice in order to unlock and access your entire username/password list.
- Bitwarden - Open-source, encrypted, cloud password manager. Just be sure to disable Google Analytics if you decide to use it.
Related Information
Calendar and Contacts Sync
Worth Mentioning
- fruux - a unified contacts/calendaring system that works across platforms and devices.
- Flock - a discontinued calendar and contacts sync service by Open Whisper Systems. Despite being shut down the source code is still available on GitHub.
- cloud backups - consider regularly exporting your calendar and or contacts and backing them up on a separate storage drive or uploading them to cloud storage (ideally after encrypting them).
File Encryption Software
macOS alternative: Keka is a free file archiver." %}
Worth Mentioning
- Cryptomator - Free client-side AES encryption for your cloud files. Open source software: No backdoors, no registration.
- miniLock - Browser plugin for Google Chrome / Chromium to encrypt files using a secret passphrase. Easy to use. From the developer of Cryptocat.
- AES Crypt - Using a powerful 256-bit encryption algorithm, AES Crypt can safely secure your most sensitive files. For Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- DiskCryptor - A full disk and partition encryption system for Windows including the ability to encrypt the partition and disk on which the OS is installed.
- Linux Unified Key Setup (LUKS) - A full disk encryption system for Linux using dm-crypt as the disk encryption backend. Included by default in Ubuntu. Available for Windows and Linux.
Self-contained Networks
Worth Mentioning
- ZeroNet - Open, free and uncensorable websites, using Bitcoin cryptography and BitTorrent network.
- RetroShare - Open Source cross-platform, Friend-2-Friend and secure decentralized communication platform.
- GNUnet - GNUnet provides a strong foundation of free software for a global, distributed network that provides security and privacy.
- IPFS - A peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol to make the web faster, safer, and more open. (important privacy warning)
Decentralized Social Networks
Worth Mentioning
- GNU Social - An open sourced, free and decentralized social network compatible with Mastodon and Friendica.
Related Information
- JustDeleteMe - A directory of direct links to delete your account from web services.
- Facebook Container by Mozilla - Prevent Facebook from tracking you around the web.
- Delete your Facebook account - Direct link to delete your Facebook account without being able to reactivate it again.
- How To Permanently Delete A Facebook Account - This guide will take you through a smooth and successful Facebook account deletion.
Domain Name System (DNS)
Worth Mentioning
- NoTrack - A network-wide DNS server which blocks Tracking sites. Currently works in Debian and Ubuntu.
- Namecoin - A decentralized DNS open source information registration and transfer system based on the Bitcoin cryptocurrency.
- Pi-hole - A network-wide DNS server for the Raspberry Pi. Blocks advertising and tracking domains for all devices on your network.
Digital Notebook
Warning
- Note: As of Dec 2018, Joplin does not support password/pin protection for the application itself or individual notes/notebooks. Data is still encrypted in transit and at sync location using your master key. See open issue.
Worth Mentioning
- Paperwork - Open source and self-hosted solution. For PHP / MySQL servers.
- Org-mode - A major mode for GNU Emacs. Org-mode is for keeping notes, maintaining TODO lists, planning projects, and authoring documents with a fast and effective plain-text system.
Paste Services
The software is good but ghostbin.com's security is worrisome." %}
Worth Mentioning
- disroot.org - Free privacy-friendly service that offers PrivateBin and other applications.
Productivity Tools
Worth Mentioning
- Cryptee - Free privacy-friendly service for storing Documents, files and Photos
- EtherCalc - EtherCalc is a web spreadsheet. Data is saved on the web, and people can edit the same document at the same time. Changes are instantly reflected on all screens. Work together on inventories, survey forms, list management, brainstorming sessions.
- disroot.org - Free privacy-friendly service that offers Etherpad, EtherCalc and PrivateBin.
- dudle - An online scheduling application, which is free and OpenSource. Schedule meetings or make small online polls. No email collection or the need of registration.
- LibreOffice - Free and open source office suite
PC Operating Systems
Warning
Worth Mentioning
- OpenBSD - A project that produces a free, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based UNIX-like operating system. Emphasizes portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security and integrated cryptography.
- Arch Linux - A simple, lightweight Linux distribution. It is composed predominantly of free and open-source software, and supports community involvement. Parabola is a completely open source version of Arch Linux.
- Whonix - A Debian GNU/Linux based security-focused Linux distribution. It aims to provide privacy, security and anonymity on the internet. The operating system consists of two virtual machines, a "Workstation" and a Tor "Gateway". All communication are forced through the Tor network to accomplish this.
- Subgraph OS - Another Debian based Linux distribution, it features security hardening which makes it more resistant to security vulnerabilities. Subgraph runs many desktop applications in a security sandbox to limit their risk in case of compromise. By default, it anonymizes Internet traffic by sending it through the Tor network. Note: It is still in alpha, and much testing and bug fixing still has to be done.
Live CD Operating Systems
Worth Mentioning
- Tiny Core Linux - A minimal Linux operating system focusing on providing a base system using BusyBox and FLTK. The distribution is notable for its size (15 MB) and minimalism, with additional functionality provided by extensions.
Mobile Operating Systems
Worth Mentioning
- Replicant - An open-source operating system based on Android, aiming to replace all proprietary components with free software.
- OmniROM - A free software operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android mobile platform.
- MicroG - A project that aims to reimplement the proprietary Google Play Services in the Android operating system with a FLOSS replacement.
Android Privacy Add-ons
Control your traffic with "NetGuard"
NetGuard provides simple and advanced ways to block certain apps' access to the internet without the help of root privileges. Applications and addresses can individually be allowed or denied access to your Wi-Fi and/or mobile connection, allowing you to control which apps are able to call home or not. https://www.netguard.me/
Manage your apps' permissions with XPrivacyLua
Revoking Android permissions from apps often let apps crash or malfunction. XPrivacyLua solves this by feeding apps fake data instead of real data. https://lua.xprivacy.eu/
Requirements: Magisk (xda-developers) Xposed Framework (xda-developers)
Open Source Router Firmware
Worth Mentioning
- OpenBSD - A project that produces a free, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based UNIX-like operating system. Emphasizes portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security and integrated cryptography.
- DD-WRT - A is Linux-based firmware for wireless routers and wireless access points. It is compatible with several models of routers and access points.
Don't use Windows 10 - It's a privacy nightmare
- Data syncing is by default enabled.
- Browsing history and open websites.
- Apps settings.
- WiFi hotspot names and passwords.
- Your device is by default tagged with a unique advertising ID.
- Used to serve you with personalized advertisements by third-party advertisers and ad networks.
- Cortana can collect any of your data.
- Your keystrokes, searches and mic input.
- Calendar data.
- Music you listen to.
- Credit Card information.
- Purchases.
- Microsoft can collect any personal data.
- Your identity.
- Passwords.
- Demographics.
- Interests and habits.
- Usage data.
- Contacts and relationships.
- Location data.
- Content like emails, instant messages, caller list, audio and video recordings.
- Your data can be shared.
- When downloading Windows 10, you are authorizing Microsoft to share any of above-mentioned data with any third-party, with or without your consent.
Some good news
- WindowsSpyBlocker - Open source tool that blocks data collection.
- Comparison of Windows 10 Privacy tools - ghacks.net
- Fix Windows 10 privacy. - fix10.isleaked.com
- Windows 10 doesn't offer much privacy by default: Here's how to fix it. - Ars Technica.
- Guide: How to disable data logging in W10.
More bad news
- Windows 10 Sends Your Data 5500 Times Every Day Even After Tweaking Privacy Settings - The Hacker News.
- Even when told not to, Windows 10 just can't stop talking to Microsoft. It's no wonder that privacy activists are up in arms. - Ars Technica.
- Windows 10 Reserves The Right To Block Pirated Games And 'Unauthorized' Hardware. - Techdirt.
Quotes
Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say.
The NSA has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything. With this capability, the vast majority of human communications are automatically ingested without targeting. If I wanted to see your emails or your wife's phone, all I have to do is use intercepts. I can get your emails, passwords, phone records, credit cards. I don't want to live in a society that does these sort of things... I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded. That is not something I am willing to support or live under.
We all need places where we can go to explore without the judgmental eyes of other people being cast upon us, only in a realm where we're not being watched can we really test the limits of who we want to be. It's really in the private realm where dissent, creativity and personal exploration lie.
Recommended Privacy Resources
Guides
- Surveillance Self-Defense by EFF - Guide to defending yourself from surveillance by using secure technology and developing careful practices.
- The Crypto Paper - Privacy, Security and Anonymity for Every Internet User.
- Email Self-Defense by FSF - A guide to fighting surveillance with GnuPG encryption.
- The Ultimate Privacy Guide - Excellent privacy guide written by the creators of the bestVPN.com website.
- IVPN Privacy Guides - These privacy guides explain how to obtain vastly greater freedom, privacy and anonymity through compartmentalization and isolation.
- The Ultimate Guide to Online Privacy - Comprehensive "Ninja Privacy Tips" and 150+ tools.
Information
- r/privacytoolsIO Wiki - Our Wiki on reddit.com.
- Security Now! - Weekly Internet Security Podcast by Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte.
- TechSNAP - Weekly Systems, Network, and Administration Podcast. Every week TechSNAP covers the stories that impact those of us in the tech industry.
- Keybase.io - Get a public key, safely, starting just with someone's social media username.
- Freedom of the Press Foundation - Supporting and defending journalism dedicated to transparency and accountability since 2012.
- Erfahrungen.com - German review aggregator website of privacy-related services.
- Terms of Service; Didn't Read - "I have read and agree to the Terms" is the biggest lie on the web. We aim to fix that.
Tools
- ipleak.net - IP/DNS Detect - What is your IP, what is your DNS, what informations you send to websites.
- The ultimate Online Privacy Test Resource List - A collection of Internet sites that check whether your web browser leaks information.
- PRISM Break - We all have a right to privacy, which you can exercise today by encrypting your communications and ending your reliance on proprietary services.
- Security in-a-Box - A guide to digital security for activists and human rights defenders throughout the world.
- SecureDrop - An open-source whistleblower submission system that media organizations can use to securely accept documents from and communicate with anonymous sources. It was originally created by the late Aaron Swartz and is currently managed by Freedom of the Press Foundation.
- Reset The Net - Privacy Pack - Help fight to end mass surveillance. Get these tools to protect yourself and your friends.
- Security First - Umbrella is an Android app that provides all the advice needed to operate safely in a hostile environment.
- Block Cloudflare MiTM Attack - Firefox add-on to detect and block corporate MITM attack.
- Osalt - A directory to help you find open source alternatives to proprietary tools.
- AlternativeTo - A directory to help find alternatives to other software, with the option to only show open source software
Note: Just being open source does not make software secure!
Spread the word and help your friends
Copy URL and Description
For easy copy and paste. Share this text snippet.
Participate with suggestions and constructive criticism
It's important for a website like privacytools.io to be up-to-date. Keep an eye on software updates of the applications listed here. Follow recent news about providers that are recommended. We try our best to keep up but we're not perfect and the internet is changing fast. If you find an error, or you think a provider should not be listed here, or a qualified service provider is missing or a browser plugin is not the best choice anymore and anything else... Talk to us please.
This is a community project and we're aiming to deliver the best information available for a better privacy. Thank you for participating. This project needs you.
No Ads, No Google Analytics, No Affiliates, No Cross-Site Requests
WTFPL kopimi (copyme) Donate: 1N4bKCx3kpvUTBhsvbmthPDssN8ATPEhgt or use PayPal.
privacytools.io is a socially motivated website that provides information for protecting your data security and privacy. never trust any company with your privacy, always encrypt.