Encryption
Encryption options
iGoodbye.com allows you 3 different options for encryption, each with certain advantages and disadvantages.
A. Encryption using a package (such as PGP).
Advantages:
1.Documents never leave your computer unencrypted, so privacy is 100% assured.
2. You can download the file anytime you like and decrypt it with your password.
Disadvantages:
1. You must download, install and learn how to use an encryption program which takes a bit of time and effort, especially if you are not very computer savvy.
2. If you or your heirs lose the password, the file can never be decrypted.
B. Encryption using our engine with your private key.
Advantages:
1. You don't have to install or use an encryption program (e.g. PGP)
Disadvantages:
1. The file is uploaded to our server in a form that we (meaning iGoodbye.com staff) could theoretically read. Our policy is never to read your documents, but the fact remains you have to trust us not to do so if you use this method.
2. Once you provide a password and encrypt the document, we cannot decrypt it if you or your heirs lose the password.
C. Encryption using our engine with the system key.
Advantages:
1. You don't have to install or use an encryption program (e.g. PGP)
2. You or your heirs do not need to remember a password. In the event that the documents are needed, we decrypt the files and provide them to the correct recipient.
Disadvantages:
1. The file is uploaded to our server in a form that we (meaning iGoodbye.com staff) could theoretically read. Our policy is never to read your documents, but the fact remains you have to trust us not to do so if you use this method.
2. You cannot just log in and download the file whenever you like. You must contact us and request the file. We will download the file, decrypt it and send it to you in a secure fashion.
The above options can be a bit baffling, but they serve different purposes for people with differing needs. If you are storing information that is of a highly private nature, you are best going through the trouble to use option 1. If the information you are storing is not critically private, and you do not have a lot of confidence in your heirs ability to store and remember a password, option 3 becomes the only way to go. Also, some clients do not even want to tell their recipients that the information exists. These clients indicate that they would like us to contact their recipients in the event of their death and transmit the documents at that time. Option 3 becomes attractive in this instance, although an alternative is to encrypt the documents using a word that only the recipient knows (e.g. you leave a message unencrypted that says "George, the password for the encrypted document is the name of our first poodle" and hopefully George will remember the dog's name. Obviously there are significant risks with such a strategy.
Option 2 is a compromise between the other options. It has the advantage of allowing you to download your file without having to request it from us. Option 2 is also tempting if you use something other than a Windows computer (e.g. Macintosh, Linux or some other). If you use PGP (or other encryption package) on a Mac and later expect your heirs to be able to decrypt it, you had better be certain that they too have a Mac!