TOKU - Treasury of Knowledge for Users

A variety of information you might find useful

User Tools

Site Tools


flowcrypt

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
flowcrypt [2026.01.07 08:11] Steve Isenbergflowcrypt [2026.01.07 14:15] (current) – [Recommendation] Steve Isenberg
Line 3: Line 3:
 {{counter|yesterday| time| times}} yesterday, and {{counter|yesterday| time| times}} yesterday, and
 {{counter|total| time| total times}}.</fs>//  {{counter|total| time| total times}}.</fs>// 
 +
 This is a work in progress, bear with me This is a work in progress, bear with me
  
Line 180: Line 181:
  
  
-If you want, can also: +Here are clear, DokuWiki-formatted instructions for viewing and sharing your public key in FlowCrypt on an iPad. 
-Optimize this for your existing DokuWiki structure + 
-Add screenshots placeholders +You can paste this directly into your wiki. 
-Create short checklist version + 
-Add a key recovery & rotation section+⸻ 
 + 
 +====== Viewing and Sharing Your Public Key (FlowCrypt on iPad) ====== 
 + 
 +Your public key is what others need in order to send you PGP-encrypted email. 
 +It is safe to share publicly and does not expose your private key. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Method 1: View & Share from FlowCrypt Settings (Recommended) ===== 
 + 
 +==== Steps ==== 
 + • Open FlowCrypt on your iPad 
 + • Tap the ☰ menu (top left) 
 + • Go to Settings 
 + • Tap Encryption Keys 
 + • Select your active key 
 + • Tap Public Key 
 + 
 +You can now: 
 + • View the full public key text 
 + • Copy it to the clipboard 
 + • Share it via email or other apps 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Method 2: Email Your Public Key Directly ===== 
 + 
 +FlowCrypt can automatically send your public key to a contact. 
 + 
 +==== Steps ==== 
 + • Open FlowCrypt 
 + • Tap Compose 
 + • Enter the recipient’s email address 
 + • If they do not already have your key, FlowCrypt will prompt: 
 + • Send your public key 
 + • Confirm and send 
 + 
 +This sends a normal (unencrypted) email with your public key attached. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Method 3: Attach Your Public Key Manually ===== 
 + 
 +If you want to include your public key with other information: 
 + 
 +==== Steps ==== 
 + • Open FlowCrypt 
 + • Go to Settings → Encryption Keys 
 + • Select your key 
 + • Tap Export Public Key 
 + • Attach the exported file to an email or message 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== What a Public Key Looks Like ===== 
 + 
 +A public key is plain text and begins and ends like this: 
 + 
 +<code> 
 +-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- 
 +... 
 +-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- 
 +</code> 
 + 
 + 
 +Anyone can have this key. Only you have the private key. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Optional: Publish Your Public Key ===== 
 + 
 +You may publish your public key so others can find it automatically. 
 + 
 +Options include: 
 + • PGP public key servers 
 + • Personal website 
 + • Wiki page 
 + • Email signature (link or attachment) 
 + 
 +FlowCrypt can automatically discover keys published on common key servers. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Security Notes ===== 
 + • Sharing your public key is safe 
 + • Never share your private key 
 + • Protect your private key with: 
 + • Strong passphrase 
 + • Secure backup (password managerencrypted vault) 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Quick Troubleshooting ===== 
 + • Can’t see the key? 
 + • Make sure a key exists under Settings → Encryption Keys 
 + • Multiple keys listed? 
 + • Use the one marked Active 
 + • Recipient can’t encrypt to you? 
 + • Confirm they imported your public key correctly 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +Short answer: Yes, but with important limitations. 
 +FlowCrypt supports password-encrypted messages (shared secret) instead of public-key (PGP) encryption, but this is not the same as true PGP and works differently. 
 + 
 +Below is a DokuWiki-formatted explanation you can paste directly into your wiki. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +====== Sending Encrypted Email with a Shared Password (FlowCrypt) ====== 
 + 
 +FlowCrypt primarily uses public-key (PGP) encryption, but it also supports password-encrypted messages for recipients who do not use PGP. 
 + 
 +This method uses a shared secret (password) instead of a public key. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== How Password-Encrypted Messages Work ===== 
 + • You choose a shared password 
 + • The message is encrypted using that password 
 + • The recipient receives
 +An email with a secure FlowCrypt link 
 + • They enter the password in their browser to read the message 
 + • No PGP software is required for the recipient 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== When to Use This Method ===== 
 + • Recipient does not use PGP 
 + • One-time or infrequent secure messages 
 + • You can safely share a password out-of-band 
 + • Phone call 
 + • Text message 
 + • In-person 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Limitations Compared to PGP ===== 
 + • Not true end-to-end PGP 
 + • Relies on FlowCrypt’s secure message portal 
 + • Less suitable for long-term or repeated communication 
 + • Password must be shared securely ahead of time 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Sending a Password-Encrypted Message ===== 
 + 
 +==== Steps ==== 
 + • Open FlowCrypt 
 + • Tap Compose 
 + • Enter recipient email address 
 + • If no public key is found, FlowCrypt will prompt: 
 + • Send a password-encrypted message 
 + • Choose a strong password 
 + • Send the message 
 + • Share the password with the recipient via a different channel 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Recipient Experience ===== 
 + • Recipient receives an email with a link 
 + • Clicks the link 
 + • Enters the shared password 
 + • Reads the message in a secure web page 
 + • Can reply securely using the same password 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Security Best Practices ===== 
 + • Use a long, unique password 
 + • Never send the password in the same email 
 + • Avoid reusing passwords 
 + • Set expiration dates if offered 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Comparison: Public Key vs Shared Password ===== 
 + 
 +^ Feature ^ PGP (Public Key) ^ Shared Password ^ 
 +| Encryption type | True end-to-end | Password-based | 
 +| Key exchange | Public key | Shared secret | 
 +| Recipient setup | Required | None | 
 +| Best for | Ongoing secure email | One-off messages | 
 +| Reliance on FlowCrypt | Minimal | Required | 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Important Notes ===== 
 + • Subject lines are not encrypted 
 + • Gmail cannot index encrypted content 
 + • Password-encrypted messages may expire depending on settings 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Recommendation ===== 
 + • Use PGP public keys for regular, privacy-critical communication 
 + • Use password-encrypted messages only when PGP is not feasible 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 +This is a known and intentional behavior in FlowCrypt, not something you’re doing wrong. 
 + 
 +Short answer: 
 +👉 On iOS (iPad/iPhone), FlowCrypt does NOT support password-encrypted (“shared key”) messages. 
 +That’s why you only see “Send unencrypted” or “Cancel.” 
 + 
 +Below is a DokuWiki-formatted explanation you can paste into your wiki. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +====== Why FlowCrypt on iPad Does Not Offer “Shared Key” Messages ====== 
 + 
 +When composing an email in FlowCrypt on iPad, you may only see: 
 +Send unencrypted 
 +Cancel 
 + 
 +and no option to send password-encrypted (shared secret) message. 
 + 
 +This is by design. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Platform Limitation (Important) ===== 
 + 
 +FlowCrypt features differ by platform: 
 + 
 +^ Platform ^ PGP (Public Key) ^ Password / Shared Key ^ 
 +| Chrome extension (desktop) | Yes | Yes | 
 +| Web app (desktop) | Yes | Yes | 
 +| Android | Yes | Limited | 
 +| iOS (iPad / iPhone) | Yes | No | 
 + 
 +👉 iOS FlowCrypt only supports PGP public-key encryption. 
 + 
 +Password-encrypted messages are not implemented in the iOS app. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Why FlowCrypt Disabled Shared-Key on iOS ===== 
 + 
 +FlowCrypt has stated (and demonstrated by behavior) that: 
 +Password-encrypted messages rely on secure web portal 
 + • This requires browser-based flows that are: 
 + • Less reliable on iOS 
 + • Harder to secure consistently 
 + • FlowCrypt’s security model on iOS is: 
 + • PGP only 
 + • Or plaintext 
 + 
 +So if no recipient public key is found, FlowCrypt will only offer: 
 + • Send unencrypted 
 + • Cancel 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== What This Means Practically ===== 
 + 
 +On an iPad: 
 + • You cannot send encrypted email to non-PGP users using FlowCrypt 
 + • There is no hidden setting to enable shared passwords 
 + • Reinstalling or changing settings will not help 
 + 
 +This is a hard limitation, not a configuration issue. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Your Available Options ===== 
 + 
 +==== Option 1: Use PGP Only (Best Security) ==== 
 + • Ask recipient to install: 
 + • FlowCrypt 
 + • Thunderbird 
 + • Proton Mail (PGP mode) 
 + • Exchange public keys 
 + • Communicate securely end-to-end 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +==== Option 2: Use Desktop FlowCrypt for Shared-Key Messages ==== 
 + 
 +If you occasionally need password-encrypted messages: 
 + • Use FlowCrypt Chrome extension on a desktop 
 + • Send the password-encrypted message there 
 + • Continue PGP communication on iPad 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +==== Option 3: Use a Different Tool for Shared Password Messages ==== 
 + 
 +If your use case is mostly shared-secret messaging: 
 + • Proton Mail (password-protected emails) 
 + • Secure file sharing + separate email 
 + • Encrypted notes + link sharing 
 + 
 +FlowCrypt on iOS is not designed for this scenario. 
 + 
 +⸻ 
 + 
 +===== Summary ===== 
 + • FlowCrypt on iPad cannot send shared-password encrypted messages 
 + • Seeing only “Send unencrypted” is expected behavior 
 + • PGP public-key encryption does work fully 
 + • Shared-key encryption requires desktop FlowCrypt 
 + 
 +
  
-Just tell me what you’d like next. 
flowcrypt.1767802306.txt.gz · Last modified: by Steve Isenberg