Published on

July 16, 2024

End-to-End Encryption: Definition & Benefits

End-to-end encryption is a cornerstone of secure online interactions, making the security feature more crucial than ever.

This guide provides a basic description end-to-end encryption, illustrating its pivotal role in safeguarding our digital communications, with a special emphasis on its implementation in the most secure apps of 2024.

Takeaways

  • End-to-end encryption protects your data by turning it into cyphertext that can only by "unlocked" by your intended recipient
  • It's particularly important where you store/share sensitive data: messaging apps, digital calendars, journaling apps, and email or storage providers
  • In 2024 there are products prioritising E2EE: OurCal (sharing calendars), WhatsApp (messaging), ProtonMail (email), and Day One (journaling)

What is End-to-End Encryption?

End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is a security measure that ensures your digital data, whether they're messages, emails, or calendar entries, are only readable by you and the intended recipient.

By encrypting your data on your device before it's sent out, end-to-end encryption makes sure that only the person with the right decryption key, typically the recipient, can access the information in its original form.

Source: "End-to-End Encryption on Messenger Explained" by Meta

How is End-to-End Encryption Used?

From safeguarding messages in encrypted messaging apps to protecting files in cloud storage solutions, end-to-end encryption is a versatile tool in the privacy toolkit.

It's application is well known in messaging apps like WhatsApp, who stand firmly on protecting their user's data "Whether it's your confessions, your difficult debates, or your silly inside jokes, your conversations need to be protected".

Its application in calendar apps highlights its importance in everyday tasks — ensuring that when you’re scheduling an event or sharing an appointment through OurCal, your information remains encrypted from start to finish. This feature answers the growing demand for "end-to-end encrypted calendar apps," offering a layer of security that is becoming a standard expectation for users prioritizing their digital privacy.

Best Apps Using End-to-End Encryption

These products ensure that only the communicating users can see what is sent, effectively keeping your data out of the hands of unauthorized parties. They all focus on helping you accomplish everyday tasks securely:

1. OurCal - Share Calendars, Privately

  • Privacy Features: OurCal implements end-to-end encryption for your calendar events. This means that the specifics of your meetings and personal reminders are encrypted, visible only to you and those you've explicitly shared them with.
  • User Experience: OurCal marries privacy with simplicity, providing an intuitive interface that makes secure scheduling and event organizationa breeze for families, couples, friends, co-workers, and peers.
  • Cost: Free

2. Day One - 100% private journalling

  • Privacy Features: Day One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of secure journallinn, offering end-to-end encryption your entries.
  • User Experience: Day One doesn't just excel in privacy; it's also user-friendly, making secure communication accessible to all, without compromising on features or functionality.
  • Cost: Basic features available free, Premium plan available

3. WhatsApp - Message privately

  • Privacy Features: Leveraging the same encryption protocol as Signal, WhatsApp ensures that messages, calls, and video chats are end-to-end encrypted. This setup guarantees that only the people involved in the communication can decipher the messages.
  • User Experience: WhatsApp's widespread adoption, boasting billions of users, makes it one of the most convenient encrypted messaging platforms available today
  • Cost: Free

4. ProtonMail - Protected email

  • Privacy Features: ProtonMail secures your emails with end-to-end encryption, preventing anyone other than you and your recipient from accessing the email contents. The service's commitment to privacy is further underscored by its servers being located in Switzerland, renowned for its stringent privacy laws.
  • User Experience: It provides a sleek, modern interface and is designed to be intuitive, ensuring that securing your email communication doesn’t come at the expense of usability.
  • Cost: Basic features available free, Premium plans available

5. Tresorit - Encrypted cloud storage

  • Privacy Features: Tresorit offers a secure cloud storage solution with end-to-end encryption for your files, from documents to photos and videos. This encryption occurs before your data leaves your device, ensuring optimal security.
  • User Experience: Despite its focus on security, Tresorit remains user-friendly, facilitating secure file sharing and collaboration without complexity.
  • Cost: Paid

How Does OurCal Protect My Calendar With End-to-End Encryption?

OurCal stands out as a beacon of privacy and security for your calendar events.

OurCal ensures that the details of your schedule are protected from unauthorized access, making it one of the most secure calendar apps available.

Encryption at the Source

The journey of protecting your data begins the moment you create an event in OurCal. Before your data even leaves your device, it's encrypted into a format that can only be decrypted by the intended recipient.

This means that the information about your meetings, appointments, or personal reminders is turned into a secure code that is indecipherable to anyone but you and those you've chosen to share the event with.

Secure Data Transmission

Once encrypted, your calendar data travels through the internet in its secure form. Even if intercepted, the encrypted data remains unreadable and useless to cybercriminals and hackers.

This secure transmission ensures that your private information stays private, from the moment it leaves your device until it safely reaches the server or another user.

Decryption Only for Intended Recipients

The final layer of protection comes into play when your encrypted calendar event reaches its destination.

Only the intended recipients, who have the unique decryption keys, can convert the encrypted data back into its original, readable form.

These keys are securely stored on the recipients' devices, ensuring that no one else, not even OurCal, can access the unencrypted data.

Continuous Security

OurCal's commitment to security doesn't end with encryption.

The app continuously updates its security protocols to combat emerging threats, ensuring that your calendar remains protected against the latest cyber threats.

This proactive approach to digital security means that you can trust OurCal with your most sensitive scheduling information.

Beyond Your Events

OurCal protects more than just your events, but also your messages and profile data. Everything is 100% private.

OurCal | Private Shared Calendar

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Published on

Apr 9, 2024

End-to-End Encryption: Definition & Benefits

End-to-end encryption is a cornerstone of secure online interactions, making the security feature more crucial than ever.

This guide provides a basic description end-to-end encryption, illustrating its pivotal role in safeguarding our digital communications, with a special emphasis on its implementation in the most secure apps of 2024.

Takeaways

  • End-to-end encryption protects your data by turning it into cyphertext that can only by "unlocked" by your intended recipient
  • It's particularly important where you store/share sensitive data: messaging apps, digital calendars, journaling apps, and email or storage providers
  • In 2024 there are products prioritising E2EE: OurCal (sharing calendars), WhatsApp (messaging), ProtonMail (email), and Day One (journaling)

What is End-to-End Encryption?

End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is a security measure that ensures your digital data, whether they're messages, emails, or calendar entries, are only readable by you and the intended recipient.

By encrypting your data on your device before it's sent out, end-to-end encryption makes sure that only the person with the right decryption key, typically the recipient, can access the information in its original form.

Source: "End-to-End Encryption on Messenger Explained" by Meta

How is End-to-End Encryption Used?

From safeguarding messages in encrypted messaging apps to protecting files in cloud storage solutions, end-to-end encryption is a versatile tool in the privacy toolkit.

It's application is well known in messaging apps like WhatsApp, who stand firmly on protecting their user's data "Whether it's your confessions, your difficult debates, or your silly inside jokes, your conversations need to be protected".

Its application in calendar apps highlights its importance in everyday tasks — ensuring that when you’re scheduling an event or sharing an appointment through OurCal, your information remains encrypted from start to finish. This feature answers the growing demand for "end-to-end encrypted calendar apps," offering a layer of security that is becoming a standard expectation for users prioritizing their digital privacy.

Best Apps Using End-to-End Encryption

These products ensure that only the communicating users can see what is sent, effectively keeping your data out of the hands of unauthorized parties. They all focus on helping you accomplish everyday tasks securely:

1. OurCal - Share Calendars, Privately

  • Privacy Features: OurCal implements end-to-end encryption for your calendar events. This means that the specifics of your meetings and personal reminders are encrypted, visible only to you and those you've explicitly shared them with.
  • User Experience: OurCal marries privacy with simplicity, providing an intuitive interface that makes secure scheduling and event organizationa breeze for families, couples, friends, co-workers, and peers.
  • Cost: Free

2. Day One - 100% private journalling

  • Privacy Features: Day One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of secure journallinn, offering end-to-end encryption your entries.
  • User Experience: Day One doesn't just excel in privacy; it's also user-friendly, making secure communication accessible to all, without compromising on features or functionality.
  • Cost: Basic features available free, Premium plan available

3. WhatsApp - Message privately

  • Privacy Features: Leveraging the same encryption protocol as Signal, WhatsApp ensures that messages, calls, and video chats are end-to-end encrypted. This setup guarantees that only the people involved in the communication can decipher the messages.
  • User Experience: WhatsApp's widespread adoption, boasting billions of users, makes it one of the most convenient encrypted messaging platforms available today
  • Cost: Free

4. ProtonMail - Protected email

  • Privacy Features: ProtonMail secures your emails with end-to-end encryption, preventing anyone other than you and your recipient from accessing the email contents. The service's commitment to privacy is further underscored by its servers being located in Switzerland, renowned for its stringent privacy laws.
  • User Experience: It provides a sleek, modern interface and is designed to be intuitive, ensuring that securing your email communication doesn’t come at the expense of usability.
  • Cost: Basic features available free, Premium plans available

5. Tresorit - Encrypted cloud storage

  • Privacy Features: Tresorit offers a secure cloud storage solution with end-to-end encryption for your files, from documents to photos and videos. This encryption occurs before your data leaves your device, ensuring optimal security.
  • User Experience: Despite its focus on security, Tresorit remains user-friendly, facilitating secure file sharing and collaboration without complexity.
  • Cost: Paid

How Does OurCal Protect My Calendar With End-to-End Encryption?

OurCal stands out as a beacon of privacy and security for your calendar events.

OurCal ensures that the details of your schedule are protected from unauthorized access, making it one of the most secure calendar apps available.

Encryption at the Source

The journey of protecting your data begins the moment you create an event in OurCal. Before your data even leaves your device, it's encrypted into a format that can only be decrypted by the intended recipient.

This means that the information about your meetings, appointments, or personal reminders is turned into a secure code that is indecipherable to anyone but you and those you've chosen to share the event with.

Secure Data Transmission

Once encrypted, your calendar data travels through the internet in its secure form. Even if intercepted, the encrypted data remains unreadable and useless to cybercriminals and hackers.

This secure transmission ensures that your private information stays private, from the moment it leaves your device until it safely reaches the server or another user.

Decryption Only for Intended Recipients

The final layer of protection comes into play when your encrypted calendar event reaches its destination.

Only the intended recipients, who have the unique decryption keys, can convert the encrypted data back into its original, readable form.

These keys are securely stored on the recipients' devices, ensuring that no one else, not even OurCal, can access the unencrypted data.

Continuous Security

OurCal's commitment to security doesn't end with encryption.

The app continuously updates its security protocols to combat emerging threats, ensuring that your calendar remains protected against the latest cyber threats.

This proactive approach to digital security means that you can trust OurCal with your most sensitive scheduling information.

Beyond Your Events

OurCal protects more than just your events, but also your messages and profile data. Everything is 100% private.

OurCal | Private Shared Calendar

Onin is a secure calendar app for your personal and social life. The app is currently invite-only as we gradually roll out early-access to our waitlist. For regular updates, follow us on Twitter.