Encryption is the answer to email thieves.
Chances are, the emails you send for personal and business usage don’t contain high-level government secrets. But that doesn’t mean you want them read by anyone devious enough to hack into your or the recipients’ computers, right? To make sure that your private emails are only seen by the intended recipients, you can encrypt them.
PC World magazine recommends the following:
- Encrypt the connection from your email provider. When checking your email with a web browser, make sure that Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption is active. This can be done simply by making sure that the URL begins with “https” rather than “http”.
- Encrypt your actual email messages. Here you can either use encryption features that have been built into your email service or download encryption software. There are also web-based encryption services.
- Encrypt your stored, cached or archived email messages. When using an email client or app on your computer or mobile device, ensure that stored data is encrypted in case the device is lost or stolen. Methods will vary depending on a variety of factors.
Here’s a detailed article, “How to Encrypt Your Email.” It goes into a lot more detail on the three points listed above.
We shouldn’t have to worry about our communications being intercepted and read, but unfortunately that’s the type of world we live in. It’s good to know that taking those three steps will go a long way toward eliminating that worry.
What other methods have you found effective to keep your communications – written or verbal – private? I’d love to hear about them.
There r a lot of programs that allow you to print to a PDF file, and of these programs also allow to set a password so that not just anyone can view the file. Search for “print to PDF file” on your favorite search engine and then see which ones allow do do this. Good ones allow 128bit encryption which is what the banking industry used to use b4 256bit came out. It’s like typing your email message and then printing it, then attaching the file to your email. Also, the major zip programs also have encryption features, so in essence you could have an encrypted PDF file inside an encrypted zip file that take years to decrypt if need that level of privacy. Just some thoughts on this. Stay safe…….. Kerry
I use the free GPG with a friend of mine. It is easy to use, but I find that convincing others I communicate with to set up the system and exchange keys is daunting. Most people don’t believe it is necessary.
I quit using using email clients over a year ago. I use my ISP’s Webmail which is ssl protected and I never give any personal info out to anyone in any of my emails
Frank – Use Silent Cicle for encrypted email, cellphone, text and video.
http://www.silientcircle.com
Bart
Hushmail.com out of Canada offers an encrypted email service, they are under no obligation to pass data to the NSA or U.s. Government .. unless the U.S. appeals to the Supreme Court in Canada to approve a request for ONE person’s email data who is shown to be committing crime(s). Canada allows no fishing expeditions with your data.
Hushmail is free, send unencrypted like any regular email, always encrypts hushmail to hushmail customers, has business account services using your domain for totally private encrypted email within a business. I do not work for them, nor am I compensated … I am simply a very satisfied customer.
I’m not aware of any hacking attempts, but thanks for the advice. Some online purchases have been consummated, but usually showing a lock ed icon when the sensitive info is requested.
I use a lot of codes, abbreviations on my phone’s calendar because I don’t trust that even that is viewed only by me.
Does this also work with Mac ?
To make it clear, the usage of SSL and TLS will keep the casual interceptor of emails from being able to read the contents, it does not keep the government from harvesting the metadata and if they want to to decrypt the contrents.
I agree with you Mike , these steps only keep the honest guy honest uunfortunately. But I do believe it is important to start taking steps even if they seem small because in today’s economy there are more honest people looking at crossing that line for their own survival. Thanx for the heads up Frank , and others for commenting. Live Strong
What about Mac and iPhone users? I don’t own or use a PC and wonder what to do about encryption with my devices.
Thanks!
I will certainly use https, SSL and TSL on any future online usage. Thanks for the advice.