0

Presently, I receive e-mail attachments from many different senders. Due to the contents of the file attachments, I want them to be protected (i.e. encrypted) while in transit to me.

How can the senders send these files to me securely? Is there a simple solution that would work for senders without much technical know-how? It's OK if they're sent via a method other than e-mail too.

Edit:

The files contain payroll data, so they should only be readable by the sender and myself while in transit. Once I receive the files, they'll be stored on my secured system and will no longer need protection.

6
  • 1
    Most archives support encryption if the one you use does not use ine that does or better yet don't send files over email use a cloud storage and upload the encrypted files and download the encrypted file
    – Ramhound
    Oct 24, 2014 at 2:31
  • @Ramhound Duly noted on don't send files over email hence the very reason for my question. I don't have control over the sender's computers, so it's a gamble what archive software the sender might have. Oct 24, 2014 at 2:36
  • You can always NOT send PII over email; there are better ways to share PII diles
    – Ramhound
    Oct 24, 2014 at 3:54
  • There are services designed to do this for you, but Super User does not allow spam so I won't name them. Oct 24, 2014 at 5:21
  • 2
    @Twisty, do some research on secure file transfer services using Google. There are several out there, and for a single-user recipient they shouldn't cost too much. Oct 24, 2014 at 15:08

2 Answers 2

2

With the assumption that GPG is too complex for an end-user with limited technical experience to set up, I would recommend both you and counterpart install a program like 7zip (http://www.7-zip.org/) which permits you to compress and encrypt files that can then be sent by email. 7zip, on Windows, also integrates with the file explorer, so you can right-click on the .7z file that you receive and unencrypt/decompress it immediately.

The only procedural prerequisite is that you'll need to share an encryption password with your counterpart; usually by phone or some other means. (Although, to be honest, I and many of those I work with just send the password in a separate email that doesn't indicate the email contains a password.)

1

Like physical locks, with encryption the first two questions you need to answer are: Who are you protecting it from ? and, for how long ? It'll greatly affect the scope of answers given.

For non tech savvy users you're probably looking at something like AES encoded zip files with a known (decent) password.

GPG would be a lot better though if they've got the know-how, which they probably won't.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .