Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What encryption do you use to send files to unsophisticated parties?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–6 of 6 posts

Re: Ask HN: What encryption do you use to send files to unsophisticated parties?

#2

Post by tomsyouruncle »

Adding a bit more detail to the question:

I'm keen to understand people's solutions for sending sensitive data (e.g. CSVs, PDF docs) to third party organisations that can only be assumed to have standard (MS Windows / MS Office) tools at their disposal for decryption.

I'm keen for encryption to be of a modern, robust standard, and preferably available via mac / unix tools.

Thanks HN!

Re: Ask HN: What encryption do you use to send files to unsophisticated parties?

#3

Post by zimpenfish »

tomsyouruncle wrote: post #2

Adding a bit more detail to the question: I'm keen to understand people's solutions for sending sensitive data (e.g. CSVs, PDF docs) to third party organisations that can only be assumed to have standard (MS Windows / MS Office) tools at their disposal for decryption. I'm keen for encryption to be of a modern, robust standard, and preferably available via mac / unix tools. Thanks HN!

Standard passworded ZIP files? Sounds like Windows Compressed Folder handling copes just fine with them.

Re: Ask HN: What encryption do you use to send files to unsophisticated parties?

#4

Post by jmnicolas »

I would use something like 7zip.

However my unsophisticated parties are really too unsophisticated or too lazy so I send it in clear.

This is why you will not find a comment from me throwing stones at Equifax or other orgs that had breach.

Re: Ask HN: What encryption do you use to send files to unsophisticated parties?

#5

Post by tomsyouruncle »

jmnicolas wrote: post #4

I would use something like 7zip. However my unsophisticated parties are really too unsophisticated or too lazy so I send it in clear. This is why you will not find a comment from me throwing stones at Equifax or other orgs that had breach.

Thanks yeah 7zip looks useful although the standard macOS unzipping utility can’t decrypt it when it’s encrypted using AES256 (not sure if windows can natively). Hence I’m concerned that the third party will also need a copy of 7zip...
Post reply on HN