Published: September 5, 2013
Unlocking Private Communications
Encryption tools the N.S.A. has had some success in cracking, according to documents provided by Edward J. Snowden describing the agency’s code-breaking capabilities.
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Unlocking Private Communications
Below are encryption tools the N.S.A. has had some success in cracking, according to documents provided by Edward J. Snowden describing the agency’s code-breaking capabilities.
VPNs
Virtual Private Networks
Commonly used by businesses to allow employees to access work networks from outside the office, via an encrypted “tunnel” through a public network.
Encrypted chat
Available with chat programs like Adium or with software added to programs like AOL Instant Messenger, providing “end to end” encryption, in which the data cannot be decrypted at any point
along the transfer (even by the messaging service).
SSH Secure Shell
For Linux and Mac operating system users, this is the standard way to gain access to a remote computer.
HTTPS
Hypertext Transfer
Protocol Secure
Protocol Secure
This has long been a standard way to encrypt password and financial information when sending information from a computer to a server, and it is becoming more common with social media sites like Facebook
and Twitter and Webmail services like Gmail. A URL that begins with "https://" and displays a small padlock icon designates a secured web page.
TLS/SSL
Transport Layer Security/
Secure Sockets Layer
Secure Sockets Layer
The most common way to secure information sent over the Internet (including Web browsing and e-mail) and internal servers. HTTPS is secured by applying TLS/SSL to a Web site.
Encrypted VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol
Services like Microsoft's Skype and Apple's FaceTime allow users to make free, encrypted phone and video calls over the Internet. The documents suggest that the N.S.A. is working with some VoIP
services to obtain pre-encryption access to such messages.