Can Elba be compelled to hand over my files?

There is no ‘Elba’ that could — no server, no account, no key escrow. The publisher cannot decrypt your folder.

Does it work on a Chromebook?

Yes. Chromebooks ship with Chromium and are one of the safest field devices for Elba.

Guides/Journalism

Secure file encryption for journalists (2026 guide)

Secure file encryption for journalists needs three things: it has to be offline, it has to leave no receipts, and it has to be readable enough to be trusted. Elba is a single HTML file that meets all three.

No receipts

Elba does not check a license, does not report usage, does not know your name. There is no account tying you to a file. There is no server that could be subpoenaed.

Field-ready

Because Elba is a single HTML file, it fits on a USB stick alongside your notes. Open it on a hotel laptop, a borrowed machine, or your own — it behaves the same.

Duress and denial

Elba does not have a duress password (a fake password that opens a decoy folder). If your threat model requires that, Elba is not enough on its own — combine it with disk-level tools like VeraCrypt hidden volumes.

Questions people actually ask

Can Elba be compelled to hand over my files?: There is no ‘Elba’ that could — no server, no account, no key escrow. The publisher cannot decrypt your folder.
Does it work on a Chromebook?: Yes. Chromebooks ship with Chromium and are one of the safest field devices for Elba.

Take the island

Elba is one HTML file. It runs locally in a Chromium browser, seals a folder with AES-256-GCM, never phones home, and becomes open source on 1 January 2030.

€49MMXXVI· now ·
€39MMXXVII2027
€29MMXXVIII2028
€19MMXXIX2029
FreeMMXXX2030

the price falls each year · free to all 1 jan 2030

Take the island — €49

pay once · no account · nothing leaves

Related guides

A privacy tool for journalists (2026 shortlist)
One-file, offline privacy tool for journalists in 2026. No accounts, no telemetry, no server ever contacted. Elba, explained briefly.
How to encrypt files in countries with heavy censorship
Offline file encryption where the network is watched. Elba is a single HTML file — no downloads at runtime, no network calls, no server.
File encryption for activists and organisers
A small, offline, no-account way for activists to seal sensitive files. Elba is one HTML file with no metadata trail.