Why Johnny Still Can't Encrypt: Evaluating the Usability of a Modern PGP Client

Re:Why Johnny Still Can't Encrypt: Evaluating the Usability ... by joosters on Saturday November 07, 2015 @11:50AM (#10525281)

But who would use it? This study is all about getting the average computer user to use PGP. Most people with webmail accounts won't want to switch back to a desktop client and possibly have to change their email address in order to send & receive secure mail.

Besides which, 'make a new client' doesn't answer the main issue, which is how to write a usable client. There are plenty of existing unpleasant PGP clients out there, unless you can detail what makes your new attempt better, it will most likely fail as well.

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Re:Why Johnny Still Can't Encrypt: Evaluating the Usability ... by x5n1 on Saturday November 07, 2015 @11:57AM (#10525314)

It has to be an all-in-one solution that you download that has to pretty much do everything for you so your mother can download a file and just go. With a simple wizard that lets you register a new e-mail address and potentially allows you to invite other users via their e-mail addresses... imported from Gmail or something like that.

I would not worry too much about compatibility with existing mail solutions or what not. It's a new service which is completely different from e-mail as far as the user is concerned. More advanced users can use it as e-mail if they want. Who would use it? Anyone who does not want all their mail to be a public spectacle.

Plenty of paranoid Americans out there right now that might be willing to give it a try.

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Re:Why Johnny Still Can't Encrypt: Evaluating the Usability ... by rakoo on Saturday November 07, 2015 @12:07PM (#10525360)

Tutanota (https://tutanota.com/) does that, and even has compatibility with the existing SMTP network. It seems to be web-only at the moment though. I'm pretty sure other systems exist, unfortunately as long as we stay with SMTP nothing will change.

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