Topic: Encrypted Email

The hosts discuss the lack of security and guaranteed delivery in SMS and email systems. They explore how big providers like Gmail and Yahoo filter content, often requiring companies to pay high fees for "guaranteed" inbox placement. The segment also touches on MailChimp's flat-fee model and how it might lead to server overloads and missed newsletters.

Google has begun charging users for Gmail storage once they exceed a 15-gigabyte limit, a move described as a "long-game bait and switch." Users are being prompted to sign up for "Google One" to continue receiving emails. The hosts recommend ProtonMail as an alternative, though they express minor concerns regarding its default encryption key structure.

The hosts provide guidelines for listeners to interact with the show, emphasizing the importance of descriptive subject lines and short emails. Curry requests that links be sent via Twitter for easier processing, while Dvorak encourages government whistleblowers to use encryption for anonymity. They also remind listeners not to send the same tips to both hosts simultaneously.

BitMessage is an encrypted, peer-to-peer communication protocol that functions similarly to Bitcoin but for messaging. The No Agenda community has adopted the platform to bypass traditional email providers like Google, utilizing a system where addresses are long numerical strings rather than domain-based names. The protocol requires a "statement of work" for sending messages, which serves as a deterrent against spam.

LavaBit, an encrypted email service used by Edward Snowden, shut down operations after receiving a government order that the owner, Ladar Levinson, could not legally discuss. Glenn Greenwald reported that Snowden found the shutdown "inspiring." The hosts question the authenticity of the second-hand quotes provided by Greenwald and suggest a coordinated effort to attack the Obama administration's digital policies.