How to Securely Send Sensitive Information over the Internet
Transmitting sensitive data, such as banking information, credit card numbers, login credentials, or other information over the internet via email, text message, or other means is not a good idea. However, it is sometimes the only means of transmitting information.
There are a variety of methods for transmitting sensitive information over the internet, and the majority of them do not necessitate the use of technical expertise.
Because internet privacy is becoming a significant source of concern, it is more necessary than ever to encrypt your information. In this guide, we’ll go over some of the most effective methods for sending sensitive information over the internet in a safe and secure manner.
5 Techniques for Sending Sensitive Information Over the Internet in a Secure Manner
Listed below are some tools and apps that will assist you in sharing sensitive information online:
1. Making use of a virtual private network (VPN).
The use of a virtual private network (VPN) is by far the most effective method of protecting sensitive information on any device and securely transmitting it to another person over the internet.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online privacy technology that encrypts your online traffic so that it cannot be read by anybody else using the internet. Each and every piece of information you give or receive through websites or the broader internet is sent and received via an encrypted tunnel.
If you wish to submit some kind of sensitive information through a website, you may be confident that your communication will be entirely safe with them. In reality, neither your Internet service provider nor the government are aware of what you are doing online. Furthermore, not even the most competent hacker will be able to decrypt that encrypted tunnel.
As an added security feature, this free cybersecurity programme masks your real IP address and replaces it with the IP address of an encrypted VPN server. As a result, technically, your initial location, as well as the information you submit, is likewise protected.
2. Using File-Sharing Services That Are Secure
Using secure file-sharing services such as Google Drive or Dropbox, which employ encryption, is required if you want to exchange files over the internet. The files you share through these services, on the other hand, will not be automatically destroyed until you delete them manually. Consequently, there is a possibility that such files will be accessible to someone else at some point in the future.
A service that automatically deletes the file once it has been securely received at the other end is required. Firefox Send and Tresorit Send are examples of such services.
I would recommend utilising Firefox Transmit, which is pretty simple to use and allows you to send approximately 1 GB of data without having to register with the service, and 2.5 GB of files after you do register.
All that is required is that you upload the file and deliver the URL to the recipient. Additionally, it produces a key for the download URL and encrypts the file in full. It also inquires as to how long you would require the file to remain online.
3. Making Use of Email Encryption
Email is the most commonly utilised mechanism for data breaches, and it is also the most expensive. It is a well-known type of phishing attack that is used to steal your personal information.
When sending emails, use encryption to protect your personal information and avoid significant data breaches. ProtonMail, Posteo, and Tutanota are just a few of the email encryption services that are available.
Any email you send over these services is encrypted from beginning to end. However, in addition to these technologies, you may educate your employees on the importance of never opening any questionable emails, let alone clicking on the links contained inside them. That is the only way to avoid being a victim of email phishing.
4. Sharing passwords through the use of password managers
In the event that you simply need to send or share a password with a single person, there exist password managers that allow you to do so safely. LastPass and Dashlane are two examples of password managers that are both secure and convenient.
Along with the password field, you can also provide any other textual information you want to share. Keep your passwords safe by avoiding sending them through unencrypted messaging services.
5. Making Use of Encrypted Messaging Services
Encrypted messengers such as Signal and Wickr Me are two of the most secure messaging platforms available, encrypting every bit of data between you and the recipient.
Data will be automatically removed from these messengers in order to reduce the risk of data storage. If you wish to, you can send text messages to other people and share small files with them.
Signal is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted messaging service, however it requires a phone number to be used in the first place to function.
Wickr Me is a service that is similar to Signal, with the advantage that it does not require a phone number. WhatsApp, Wire, Telegram, Threema, and Viber are some of the other encrypted messaging apps available.
The Most Important Takeaways
Sending sensitive information over the internet has become increasingly perilous in recent years. Every hacker is aware that the vast majority of employees throughout the world work from home, and that there are security flaws that can allow them to gain access to confidential information.
Although sharing sensitive information over the internet is not recommended, it is possible if you take preventive measures and secure your network. While on the internet, you can utilise a virtual private network (VPN), email encryption, password managers to share passwords, and even encrypted messengers to communicate with others.
