Why isn't there an end-to-end encryption standard for email so that we can get rid of fax machines?

MrFagtron9000@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 133 points –

That's the reason we have to still use fax machines right?

I know there are ways to do encryption like PGP on your message directly or I think email sent over TLS? But that isn't the default right and that's why I can't send a picture of my license to the insurance company directly over email?

66

You are viewing a single comment

It’s very easy to E2E encrypt stuff you’re sending via email: zip it up in a password protected archive. Even the email client won’t know what it’s sending.

And even if that isn’t good for whatever reason, there’s no reason to use email. A web form via https is secure and encrypted, and cuts out the email middleman.

That’s not the reason we still use fax machines. The reason we still use fax machines is because someone very old and set in their ways is the one in charge of making the decision to move away from fax machines.

How secure are password protected zip files?

Zip files aren't very secure by default, however you can specify better encryption with better zipping tools. It would be more accurate to say you should put the content into an encrypted archive file.

Probably shouldn’t have been so specific, as I don’t know how deeply encrypted zip files can be in terms of bits. Broadly speaking, there is definitely some kind of encrypted archive file that would be secure when sent over email