In today’s fast-paced digital world, many businesses and individuals rely on secure methods of communication to send sensitive information. Although fax is still considered a popular option for many, the reality is that faxing is a lot less secure than people think. With the growing number of online fax services and the ease of tying it in with email, fax transmissions are vulnerable to hacking, leaving sensitive information exposed.
One of the main reasons faxing is not as secure as people believe is because most people use an online fax service that is tied in with their email. This means that sensitive information is transmitted over the internet and can be vulnerable to hacking and interception just like any normal email. Killing the argument that faxes are more secure because they use phone lines that bypass the internet. In fact, most businesses don’t even have traditional phone lines, and most that do stop using them ages ago. Opting for multifunction printer-scanner-fax machines that send the information over the network. Furthermore, traditional fax lines are not encrypted, making it easy for hackers to gain access to sensitive information if they have access to the physical line.
In contrast, encrypted email provides a secure way to transmit sensitive information. Encrypted email uses advanced encryption technology to protect messages from unauthorized access. This means that even if a hacker were to intercept the message, they would not be able to read its contents without the encryption key.
Another advantage of encrypted email is that it is easy to use. Many encrypted email services offer simple, user-friendly interfaces that make it easy for anyone to send secure messages. There’s no need to worry about complex technical setups or the need for additional hardware or software. It’s normally as easy as adding the word “[secure]” to the subject line of your email.
Encrypted email also provides the option for two-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of security to the message transmission process. This requires the recipient to provide two forms of identification before accessing the message, making it even more difficult for hackers to access the information.
In conclusion, while fax has been a popular method of communication for many years, the reality is that it is not as secure as people think. With the growing number of online fax services and the ease of tying it in with email, traditional fax lines are vulnerable to hacking, leaving sensitive information exposed. Encrypted email provides a safer alternative, with its advanced encryption technology and easy-to-use interface, making it a great option for businesses and individuals who want to ensure the security of their sensitive information.
Sources:
- “Fax Machine vs. Encrypted Email: Which is Safer for Sensitive Information?” (2019). ProPrivacy. https://proprivacy.com/guides/fax-vs-encrypted-email
- “The Importance of Encrypted Email: Why it Matters and How to Use it” (2021). Tech.co. https://tech.co/news/encrypted-email-matters-use
