14 DAY TRIAL // The NSA surveillance programs are simple proof that nothing is really safe when it comes to the Internet. That includes your social networking, instant messages and sent emails.
However, there are some ways to increase your chances to bypass the all-seeing Big Brother, while there’s no way to be certain it really works.
In the initial reports regarding PRISM, it was revealed that several companies have been involved with the NSA, including Google, Microsoft and Apple, among many other high-profile names.
This means that services such as Apple Mail and Microsoft Office Outlook aren’t safe when it comes to desktop email clients.
There are several secure alternatives, however, as Prism Break shows. For instance, one of the most popular ones is Mozilla Thunderbird, the same developer behind Firefox, a browser that is also considered to be safe to use.
Another solution is using Claws Mail, a lightweight email app that comes with GPG support. Similarly, Evolution can be used in pretty much the same way, but it also provides a calendar app, which makes it easier to schedule the meeting you need to attend and the things on your to-do list.
Icedove is an unbranded Thunderbird mail client that is suitable for free distribution. It comes with support for different mail accounts, including POP, IMAP and Gmail as well as several nifty features.
Kontact is another app that can be used to manage personal information. It supports email, address books, calendars, tasks and news feeds.
While these apps could be used to bypass PRISM or to at least fly under the radar, the NSA has several other programs that can be used to tap directly into the data flow and to collect all information necessary without going through the servers of various Internet companies.
It is, however, a sign of protest to the surveillance programs and the companies that have been willingly collaborating with the NSA.