Secure Encrypted Communications with Panama Legal Law Firm

Introduction – Today there are a lot of people acting as snoops. These people can take the form of hackers, private detectives, employees of various governments some being straight out and out dictatorships or monarchy run governments, kidnappers, ISP’s, blackmailers and whomever. It seems that snooping has become a sport in a way. What we have done is establish a few methods for you to communicate with us securely. Securely means using serious encryption that would take decades to crack..

Hushmail – Hushmail is a secure email provider. This means that when the email leaves your computer it is encrypted so anyone snooping on your email with packet sniffers or other methods will only get gibberish, nothing meaningful. The hush server delivers the mail. If the person has a hushmail account the message will automatically be unencrypted. If they have a regular email address the message will arrive unencrypted. This gives you a way to send us email including file attachments without exposing any private material. You can get a free email account at hushmail by clicking here:

http://www.hushmail.com/services-mail

SKYPE – Skype provides a free way for you to talk with us or chat with us. While Skype does encrypt the messages and voice communications this encryption is only good protection against casual snoops like hackers, ISP’s and some degrees of criminals. None of us know much about the Skype software since it is a closed source code. This means there could be back doors in the encryption that is given to various people, or not, we have no idea. Skype is a company owned by Ebay and Ebay is of course not a company to be trusted in our humble opinion only of course. Ebay to us is a den of fraud, copyright violations and credit card fraud. Another Ebay owned company PayPal is another entity that has massive numbers of consumer complaints against it for alleged frauds and deceptions of all sorts. See: http://paypalsucks.com So the Skype lineage is far from perfect or one that warrants trust. We use Skype for convenience and since there is encryption sufficient protection is in place against the casual snoop.

YMessenger - Yahoo messenger is a free IM and VOIP client. You can it is available for Windows and Mac. YMessenger can be a little better voice quality, depending on your location. YMessenger works well with the VOIP encryption provided by zFone.

Gizmo – Gizmo is a voice and chat client that allows for free computer-to-computer communication over the Internet. One can easily get a free Gizmo account without any credit card information, just providing an email account. So why is Gizmo better than Skype. Well it isn't. But now we talk about an encryption product that is free for Gizmo called Zfone.

Zfone – Is a free encryption software product that works with Gizmo providing PGP level encryption for your Gizmo free computer-to-computer conversations and chats.. Zfone is a project designed and run by Phillip Zimmerman the inventor of PGP, Pretty Good Encryption which has for many years been a trusted encryption program (the open source versions anyway and yes Zfone is open source). Zfone is still in beta, we tested it and we like it. It like Gizmo is simple with a quick and easy installation. Zfone will also operate with: X-Lite, XMeeting, Google Talk, and SJphone. We elected to use Gizmo here at Panama Legal because it works with windows, Linux and Macs so please don’t ask us to switch.

Law Firms and Secure Communications– Ask yourself how many law firms actually care enough about their clients to go this far to ensure their privacy.

Here is how to download and install Gizmo or YMessenger with Zfone for secure encrypted voice communications:

You should first choose a VOIP application and install it. After installation, you should make a test call to be sure that your audio hardware (mic and speakers) is functioning properly.

Step 1: Install your messenger application, either Gizmo or YMessenger.

Here are links to instructions for Gizmo and YMessenger complete with screen shots:

• Gizmo
• YMessenger

Install Gizmo

Visit the download page:

http://www.gizmoproject.com/download.php

The most recent version as of this writing is 3.1. The page should automatically detect your OS and start the download for you. If not, choose the download link appropriate for your computer's operating system. Save the download to a convenient place such as your desktop.

• Once the download completes click the file (some OS require a double-click) to install the program.
  
  
• Choose your language:
  
  
  
  
• Accept the license agreement and install with default options. Click 'Next' three times through the next screens to install with default options:
  
  
  
  
• When the installation completes, be sure that 'Run Gizmo Project' is checked, and click 'Finish'.
  
  
  
  
• Now you will be prompted to create a new account. Fill in all of the relevant information, including the security code and user agreement terms:
  
  
  
  
• Next you will see the 'Getting Started' screen as below. We will use this to make a test call to check your connection.
  
  
  • Click on ' Make a test call:
    
    
    
    
    
  • After a few seconds, you will hear a recording welcoming you to Gizmo. Following the message will be an 'echo test' for you to check your microphone. If you have any problems with these tests, please refer to the Gizmo support system or their user forums.
    
    
    
    
  • Once you are finished with the test, choose 'HangUp' from the interface:
    
    
    
    
  • Close the Getting started screen, and you are ready for the next step, Install zFone

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Install YMessenger Optional - (you do not have to install this software if you are already using Gizmo. YMessenger is an alternative.)

PLEASE NOTE: Using the instant messaging (IM) function is possible, but NOT secure. This setup shows you how to use the Voice Call feature WITH zFone to make a secure VOIP call.

First, visit the download page here:

http://messenger.yahoo.com/

Click the 'Download Now' link on that page. The site automatically chooses the correct download for your operating system. Save this file to your desktop. We are including instructions and screen shots for Windows Vista since Windows XP will be depreciated in the near future. YMessenger is supported on Mac and Linux platforms as well.

• After the file is downloaded, double-click the installer. You will be presented with a few optional selections. To install the messenger only, make your selections as below:
  
  
  
  
• Next, read the license agreement and place a check in the "Yes, I accept..." box.
  
  
  
  
• The installer requires an internet connection do download additional setup files. When ready, click "Install".
  
  
  
  
• After a few minutes (slower internet connections will take a little longer), click on 'Close' when presented with this screen. YMessenger will automatically start.
  
  
  
  
  
• Next you will see the Log IN screen. If you have a yahoo email account or ID already, enter the ID and password. If not, click on 'Get a New Yahoo ID'. Your browser will launch and Yahoo will guide you through making a new account.
  
  
  
  
  
• Once logged in you must test your audio hardware before attempting a call. To do this right-click in any of the toolbar area (at the top) and choose 'Preferences'.
  
  
  
  
• Next, select the 'Voice and Calls' section. Be sure that the Speaker and Microphone settings are set according to your hardware (typically, this is 'Default'). Once this is set, Click on 'Make a Free Test Call'.
  
  
  
  
• When making a free test call, you will see the screen below. Follow the instructions. IF you have problems with your audio hardware, be sure and listen to their hints or check their FAQ.
  
  
  
  
• If successful, after hanging up the test call you will be back at the first screen. Now, you should add us to your contact list. Click on the '+' sign to 'add a contact'
  
  
  
  
• When the 'Add A Contact' dialog opens, enter 'panamalaworg' in the field, and click 'add'.
  
  
  
  
• To make a call, click on the phone icon in the top-right corner of our contact details, as shown below.
  
  
  
  
• TO MAKE A SECURE CALL, you must complete the zFone installation next.
  

Installing zPhone

BE SURE TO CLOSE GIZMO OR YMESSENGER COMPLETELY BY RIGHT-CLICKING THE ICON IN THE SYSTEM TRAY AND CHOOSE 'EXIT' BEFORE INSTALLING ZPHONE.

There are full instructions for installing zPhone on their site, but I have included some screen-shots and a simplified version here.

1. Register to download the zPhone Installer from here. To do this you will need to register with an email address, and the download link will be emailed to you.

2. Once you have downloaded the installer, installation and setup are fairly straightforward. The installer comes in a .zip file. Uncompress the file (most OS including windows include this option with a right-click).

3. In the decompressed folder, is the installer. Click the file (some OS require a double-click) to install the program.

• Accept the license agreement by selecting 'I Agree.'
  
  
  
  
• Click 'Install' to install with default options:
  
  
  
  
• During the installation, you may be presented with warnings from microsoft, click 'Continue Anyway'. (This will happen 5 times)
  
  
• Click 'Finish' to complete the installation:
  
  

 

Now that zPhone is running, you should see the zPhone control panel open. Now you are ready to communicate securely!

 

Start Gizmo or YMessenger again. Once you are connected, you are ready to go. Here's what will happen when you try to call us. 1. In the Gizmo interface, type 'panamalaw' (without the quotes) into the call window as below, then press the green 'Connect' button (the telephone) to the right. For YMessenger, click on the 'Start a Voice Conversation' icon. (screen shot below)

 

Gizmo or YMessenger will now attempt to connect. Once connected, zPhone will attempt to secure the connection. The zPhone control panel will look like this:

 

Once zPhone detects that we are running zPhone also, it will begin a secure session and will look like this:

 

Once a secure connection is established, you will see a similar screen. To ensure that the connection is sound, be sure to exchange the words in the 'Compare with Partner' box near the top with us during the conversation.

 

If the secure connection is compromised or disconnected, the zPhone control panel will alert you by displaying:   To attempt to reestablish a secure connection, click on 'Go Secure'.