Email isn't secure
E-mail has become an indispensable communication tool for individuals as well as businesses. And many times, emails contain confidential and sensitive information that must be protected against eavesdropping. Email messages are often transmitted in plain text over the Internet without any form of email encryption. Sending unencrypted emails through the Internet is like sending postcards through regular mail-anyone that has access can read or modify its content.
While the email protocol used in sending emails via the Internet is capable of supporting encryption, it doesn't have any reliable way to guarantee or enforce end-to-end encryption. Even services like Gmail that support encryption between your computer and their service can't guarantee your message will be transmitted securely between their mail server and your recipient's mail server. This is because if the recipient's mail server doesn't support encryption (which it often doesn't) Gmail is forced to fallback to transmitting your message in plain text. The same goes for essentially all personal and corporate mail environments.
Perhaps even more alarming is copies of your messages are typically stored unencrypted on your computer, your company's or host's mail server, each recipient's mail server, and each recipient's computer. While transmitting your message normally takes a fraction of a second, once your message is stored it normally sticks around for years. This provides multiple opportunities for unauthorized access to your email messages and raises legitimate privacy concerns. A good email encryption solution will use powerful cryptography techniques to ensure your messages are both stored and transmitted securely, and that only you and your recipients have the capability to decrypt your message data.
The problem with traditional email encryption
Traditional email encryption solutions require at least a moderate degree of computer expertise to implement. There is software to purchase, download, and install. There are encryption keys to generate, publish, and maintain. And what do you do when one of your recipients uses a different encryption technology from your own? Do you purchase, download, install, and configure their solution in addition to your own or do you require them to purchase, download, install, and configure your solution?
How to easily send encrypted emails
If you use a locally installed email program such as Outlook, you can protect your email messages by downloading a free Secure Add-In for Microsoft Outlook that will allow you to send and receive encrypted emails within your Outlook account. There are also other email encryption services that allow you to send private emails for free without downloading software or the use of encryption keys and works on any email client or web enabled device.
If your emails are not encrypted, its content is exposed and anyone read or modify it. It is up to you to protect yourself and your data. A quick rule of thumb to follow is: Encrypt data that would be problematic if others have access to it. If you need to send confidential or proprietary data, send encrypted emails.
Than Nguyen is an Internet consultant specializing in Internet Technology and helping businesses implement strategies and tools to increase productivity and profitability. Send secure encrypted emails for free at https://www.sendinc.com/
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