Long billing itself as a mail provider immune to the prying eyes of the government, even the gaping, razor-laden maw of the Carnivore project, Hushmail encrypts all mail I/O with PGP. It uses a proprietary key management system which they said would be impervious to snooping. They’re so confident, they have this to say about their product:
“The only way to decrypt or unscramble Hush messages is by using your passphrase when you open up your Hushmail account. Carnivore cannot decrypt your mail, and is therefore, powerless against messages sent between Hush users.”
Unfortunately for its users, Hushmail has been caught sending discs full of decrypted emails to the DEA in the investigation of an anabolic steroid ring. While cooperating with law enforcement in an investigation such as this is a Good Thing™, it will undoubtedly irritate their members.
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