A private email service should encrypt your emails at every stage, from the sender’s device to the recipient’s. This ensures that no one — not even the email provider — can read your messages. Also, the more control you have over your data, the less Big Tech can manipulate you — something Bruce Schneier calls surveillance-based manipulation(new window). Privacy matters.
End-to-End Encryption
End-to-End Encryption is a way of protecting your data online, as it blocks third parties from reading or manipulating messages sent from one device to another. It works by encrypting the content of the message before sending it to its recipient and decrypting it on the receiver’s device with their private key.
E2EE is a good solution for companies with sensitive data, as it ensures that they can comply with regulations and laws that require data security. It can also protect against a variety of security risks, such as phishing attacks, malware and network attacks.
Several popular communication apps use end-to-end encryption, including Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram. But while these services do an excellent job of securing messages, it’s important to note that even their best cryptography isn’t unbreakable by hackers or snoops.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (or 2FA) adds a second layer of security to your Private Email account. It’s a great way to protect your data and ensure that only you can access your account.
A common form of 2FA requires you to provide a username and password along with a mobile phone number to verify your identity before allowing you to log in. This satisfies the first of the two authentication factors, known as “something you have.”
Something you know is typically a secondary password or a security question that only you know. Some examples are answers to a security question about your mother’s maiden name or the CVV on the back of your credit card.
This is a form of 2FA that’s easy to use, but it’s not foolproof. It’s also susceptible to attacks such as brute force and dictionary attacks, where hackers try to guess your username or password by generating thousands of username-password combinations.
Secure Cloud Storage
Cloud storage can be a great way to store files and data. However, it can also put your business at risk if it isn’t properly secured.
One way to improve cloud security is by encrypting the data before it is stored on the cloud service’s servers. This way, only those with a secret key can access it.
This strategy can be particularly effective in protecting against ransomware, a type of cyberattack that encrypts files and demands payment to unlock them.
To boost your protection, look for a provider that uses client-side encryption, where files are encrypted and decrypted on the user’s device. This prevents your data from being decrypted on the cloud service’s servers, even if a thief manages to gain access.
Another great way to enhance your security is by using two-factor authentication. This involves a different verification method, such as a phone call or text message.
Information Center
A center of excellence for storing, processing and disseminating the most cutting edge information available. It has to do with information technology and the way we communicate with each other. It is also the logical heir to libraries which had a long tradition of storing and retrieving knowledge at all costs. The modern library has undergone a renaissance and the role of information providers is undergoing a transformation of its own. Those that get it right are able to help us navigate the ever-changing tangle of information, communication and networking technologies we rely on to survive in an increasingly digital world. The newest entrant in the fray is the information center. Unlike the old hat, the information center isn’t restricted to one department or one building. It can be found in various places like the public library, school libraries and even at home.
