What tools can you use to achieve this?
"Encryption works," he said via a remote connection to the SXSW technology conference, adding: "It's a defense against the dark arts of the digital realm.".
The website ProPublica - writes journalist Julia Angwin - has reported on the NSA's efforts to crack encryption techniques. However, it is not known how successful the agency's effort was, and security experts still recommend their use.
1. Encrypt the data you store: This way you protect your data from being read by third parties who have access to your computer.
• Encrypt your hard driveso that if you lose your computer or are hacked, your data remains safe. Apple's latest Macintosh computers include a built-in encryption system, FileVault, which is very simple to use. Some versions of Microsoft's Windows 7 include a built-in encryption system, called BitLocker. Another very popular solution is the free open-source program TrueCrypt, which can encrypt either individual files or entire partitions on your computer or external hard drive.
• Encrypt your smartphone 's hard drive . Chances are, you have just as much—or more—sensitive information stored on your phone as you do on your computer. Apple doesn't allow you to encrypt your phone's hard drive or files, although the operating system encrypts passwords and some other files if you use a passcode on your device. Apple allows you to encrypt files you've backed up to iTunes or iCloud. You can also use the Find my iPhone service to erase data on your iPhone or iPad if it's stolen. Google's Android operating system allows you to encrypt the hard drive of mobile phones.
• Encrypt the data you store in the cloud. Try SpiderOak encryption service.
2. Encrypt the data you transmit. The Snowden revelations showed that American and British intelligence agencies are collecting as much unencrypted data as they can find on the Internet.
• Enable HTTPS everywhere in web browser . This protects you from hackers and intelligence agencies, which "sweep" all unencrypted internet traffic.
• Use encrypted messaging apps with your friends, who should also install them on their devices. For iPhones, Silent Circle and Wickr offer encrypted messaging apps. For Android devices, try the TextSecure app.
• Use the Off-the-Record Messaging protocol to encrypt instant-messaging conversations . On Macs, the free Adium operating system allows for OTR chats, while on Windows you can try Pidgin. Once you've completed the steps, you can send instant messages as usual. Both the sender and recipient must be using OTR for the encryption to work.
• Use Gnu Privacy Guard to encrypt your email. Again, both parties should use GPG to keep conversations secure.
