Firefox Send: a free encrypted file sharing service

Mozilla finalized one of its Firefox Send pilot projects yesterday : a simple and secure encrypted file sharing service. Files up to 1 GB are supported (up to 2.5 GB after authorization in Firefox Account).

The service looks simple, but under it there is an engine that provides real end-to-end encryption, that is, you don’t transfer files anywhere in the clear - they are encrypted specifically on your PC and decrypted on the recipient’s computer (JS in the browser). How this works, you can look at the example of Firefox Sync , a similar architecture is implemented here.

Firefox Send demo.


In addition to direct encryption, files can be protected with a password, as well as two restrictions:

• Number of downloads
  
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 20
  • fifty
  • 100
• Link validity
  
  • 5 minutes
  • 1 hour
  • 1 day
  • 7 days

By default, there is a limit of 1 download and 1 day. That is, if the recipient did not follow the link in a day, then it is deactivated. And if you switched, then it is still deactivated.

Developers write that the service is ideal for sharing presentations or other work files with colleagues. They just get the link, click on it and download the file, you do not need access to the Firefox Account or special knowledge of cryptography (as if you encrypt the file with PGP and send it by mail).

Within a few days, the Firefox Send Android application will also be released (when you read this article, it could already exit).

By the way, while the service was in beta testing, an open-source CLI interface was written for itto easily encrypt files from the command line. It allows you to automate this procedure and seamlessly integrate it into your work tools.



The program also supports a bunch of useful functions such as archiving directories, file history and different hosts for sending (that is, you can use your own server or self hosted, not the Mozilla server).

It is worth noting that at the moment there are already several cloud solutions for exchanging encrypted files, including those from Microsoft . Regarding the latter, its solutions are supported by all members of the Microsoft Information Security Association (Microsoft Intelligent Security Association), where to enhance mobile authentication in February of this year entered GlobalSign Certification Authority, making digital certificates easily accessible for mobile users.

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