Show HN: Decentralized Email and Storage

[userisatester]

Arca is a tool for sending encrypted emails and storing files securely using decentralized architecture.

It’s simple to use, free to get started, and keeps your data private.

Please, if you can, review and tell us what we can do to improve; it would be really helpful.

[01HNNWZ0MV43FF]

So the emails live on my computer? You don't provide an address?

Is this just a nice GUI replacement for using gpg with eg Gmail?

[userisatester]

Hi thanks for this. Arca doesn’t give you a new email address. It works with the one you already have. Your emails are encrypted on your computer before being sent so only you and the recipient can read them. This way your data stays private and Arca doesn’t rely on storing it on central servers.

Also While Arca simplifies encryption, it’s not just a GUI for GPG. It handles all the complicated parts like key management and encryption automatically so you don’t have to. Think of it as making secure email as easy as regular email but without compromising your privacy.

[bigs]

From the FAQ it appears to be similar to Protonmail - emails stored on their servers, however the key “decentralized” difference being that you locally hold the encryption key so any attack on the server can’t decrypt the emails as you hold the key (unlike Protonmail who holds them).

I don’t know the tech details of either product myself I’ve just re-iterated their FAQ entry.

[userisatester]

You’re spot on! Arca encrypts emails locally, and you hold the keys. This means even if servers are attacked, your data stays secure because only you can decrypt it—unlike ProtonMail, where they manage the keys.

[cchance]

I don't think its hosted on their servers, they don't mention that specifically its software, thats why the mac version requires MacFUSE for a secure encrypted drive for the at-rest security

[userisatester]

You’re right! Arca isn’t hosted on their servers, it’s software you run locally. The mention of MacFUSE is for creating a secure, encrypted drive on your device, ensuring your data remains protected even at rest.