Related Tools

Updated22 February 2022

Table of Contents

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    Use the following tools to protect your privacy and security while browsing and searching the Web; sending and receiving email; chatting via text, voice or video; sharing large files; or collaborating on sensitive documents. You can also learn more about how to protect the privacy of your online communication, recover from possible account compromise and protect yourself and your data when using social media.

    Security in a Box Tool Guides

    Firefox

    Web browsing

    Firefox

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    To protect your privacy and security, we strongly recommend using the open-source Firefox browser to view web pages, instead of Chrome, Edge, Opera, or Safari.

    Download | See our guide and their guide

    Firefox Focus

    (Android, iOS)

    A lightweight version of Firefox with automatic tracking protection and ad blocking built in

    Download | See their guide

    Firefox add-ons for general privacy and security

    While we recommend Firefox, many of the following plugins are available for other browsers as well.

    Privacy Badger

    (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera)

    Blocks trackers that gather your data when you browse the web with this free and open-source add-on.

    Download | See their guide

    uBlock Origin

    (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera)

    Free and open-source content blocker that can help protect you from spyware and malware when you browse the web

    Download | See their guide

    (Firefox, Chrome, Edge)

    Protects your privacy by deleting trackers that gather your data when you browse the web with this free and open-source add-on.

    Download for Firefox, Chrome, or Edge | See their guide

    Facebook Container

    (Firefox)

    Keeps Facebook from gathering information on you as you browse the web with this free and open-source add-on.

    Download | See their guide

    Disconnect

    (Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari)

    A VPN and browser plugin that hides your identity as you browse the web

    Download | See their guide

    NoScript

    (Firefox, Chrome, Edge)

    Stops malware on websites from infecting your device. Free and open-source add-on. (Until it is properly configured, NoScript makes some websites appear broken.)

    Download | See their guide

    Firefox add-ons for more secure communication with others

    Mailvelope

    A free and open-source add-on that encrypts your messages.

    Download | See their guide

    Xoom Redirector

    Helps you connect to Zoom meetings more securely by using your web browser instead of the client application. Free and open-source add-on.

    Download for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera

    More private search engines

    DuckDuckGo

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A search engine that does not store or sell your personal information

    Download | See their guide

    StartPage

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    Search engine that does not store or sell your personal information

    Add as Firefox's preferred search engine | See their guide

    More secure email providers

    Proton Mail

    (Android, iOS apps and web based for Linux, Mac, Windows)

    An email service that supports end-to-end encryption. Apps are free and open-source.

    Download | See their guide

    Riseup Mail

    (Web based or using a third-party email client such as Thunderbird)

    An invite-only email service that supports encryption and has a long history of protecting activists.

    See their guide

    Autistici

    (web based or using a third-party email client like Thunderbird)

    An email service with a long history of protecting activists

    See their guide

    Email applications that support end-to-end encryption

    Thunderbird

    (Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A free and open-source email application that supports end-to-end encryption and can download messages to your computer

    Download | See their guide

    K-9 Mail

    (Android)

    A free and open-source email app that supports end-to-end encryption and can download messages to your Android device

    Download from Google Play or F-Droid | See their guide

    OpenKeychain

    (Android)

    A free and open-source encryption key management app that works with K-9 Mail

    Download from Google Play or F-Droid | See their guide

    More secure text, voice and video chat applications

    Signal

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A free and open-source application that provides secure text, voice and video chat services but that requires a working phone number to register

    Download | See their guide

    Jitsi

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A free and open-source app — with both free and paid versions — that provides secure voice and video chat services. Browser-based access is available for Linux, Mac and Windows users. (See our Guide to Secure Group Chat & Conferencing Tools and use only on trusted servers.) Individuals and organizations with the appropriate technical expertise can host Jitsi services themselves.

    Download from Apple's iOS App Store, Google Play or F-Droid | See our guide and their FAQ

    Element

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A free and open-source application that provides end-to-end encrypted text chat and file sharing for individuals and groups. Element also provides secure voice and video messaging. Individuals and organizations with the appropriate technical expertise can host Element services themselves. Element is based on Matrix communication standard.

    Download | See their guide

    Delta Chat

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A free and open-source application that provides secure text-chat services by relying on email providers to transfer data. Does not require a phone number to register (unlike WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram)

    Download | See their guide

    Mattermost

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A text, voice and video chat application for small-group collaboration. Individuals and organizations with the appropriate technical expertise can host Mattermost services themselves.

    Download | See their guide

    More private social media platforms

    Mastodon

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    A public, decentralized social-media service that is not owned by corporations

    Download | See their guide

    Share large files more securely

    share.riseup.net

    (Web based)

    Protect the files you send with encryption. Files must be 50 MB or smaller, and the recipient must download them within 12 hours.

    upload.disroot.org

    (Web based)

    Protect the files you send with encryption. Files can be up to 2 GB, and the recipient must download them within 30 days.

    send.tresorit.com

    (Web based)

    Protect the files you send with encryption. Files can be up to 5 GB, and the recipient must download them within 7 days.

    OnionShare

    (Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows)

    Protect the files you send with end-to-end encryption, and send those files anonymously using the Tor network. OnionShare requires both you and the recipient to install software, but it also allows you to chat anonymously (text only) with the recipient or host a temporary, anonymous website. OnioShare is free and open-source software.

    Download | See their guide

    Collaborate on documents more securely

    cryptpad.fr

    (Web based)

    Securely edit and share encrypted documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and surveys with this free and open-source software. Cryptpad.fr can also be self hosted.

    See their guide