In this article we will show you the solution of how to encrypt an email in gmail, encryption is one of the best ways to secure data while using an online service.
It protects the user from getting hacked and also prevents third-party services from gaining personal information.
However, it is important to clearly understand the concept of encryption, especially for business users.
One of the most relevant places to require encryption is email, but at the same time, it is where the concept of encryption is also highly misunderstood.
Gmail Encryption and Protection Policy:
Gmail uses TLS or Transport Layer Security for encrypting sender-receiver email interactions.
Transport Layer Security is the standard encryption method used by Google, and the email receiver uses an email service that also uses TLS as their standard encryption practice, the email interactions between all the parties remain encrypted.
Gmail, however, can view emails of senders who are associated with Google.
However, this is only possible if the interaction is between parties who use TLS-supporting email services only.
If a person or organisation does not use an email service that supports TLS, then emails sent by the sender will not be encrypted, without their knowledge.
Therefore, one should always be careful with the content they put in their emails.
If a person or organisation has paid Google Workspace accounts, then they can opt for TLS- only emails, but in that case a lot of other important correspondence may remain unread, or even unreceived.
Similarly, if the organisation opts for TLS-only emails, then the sender's email may bounce as well.
Beyond basic services, users can also opt for S/MIME, which is also known as Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions.
However, this service is only applicable to paid Google Workspace Suite users, therefore users who have opted for free Gmail service cannot use this.
Step By Step Guide On How To Encrypt An Email In Gmail :-
To encrypt business emails on Gmail, the user can opt for the S/MIME or Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension service.
S/MIME is a protocol that encrypts email with user-specific keys, so the emails can remain protected while its getting delivered.
In order for S/MIME to work, the user will need to enable it on their GSuite account.
The user will also need to make sure that the receiver of the email also has S/MIME protocol enabled on their own GSuite account.
This way, the emails will automatically get encrypted.
In order to check if the sent emails are encrypted in Gmail or not, the user will need to carry out the following few steps:
- The user should first log in to their Gmail account and start composing a new mail
- Then the user will need to enter recipients of that email in the "To" section.
- After this, the user will need to check the right side of the recipient's name to find a "lock" symbol that indicates the encryption level that the recipient's email service provides.
- The user will need to select the "lock" option to change their S/MIME settings and also learn more about the level of encryption the recipient provides.
To Check Encryption of a Received Email :-
To check the encryption on a received email, the given steps below are to be followed:
- The user will first need to open the received message.
- They will then need to choose the "View Details" and then the "View Security Details" options, for Android devices.
- A colour coded lock will show the level of encryption of that message.
Conclusion :-
These are the ways by which encryption in Gmail can be checked. Third-party organisations, like FlowCrypt and Virtru, also offer to enhance protection while using Gmail.
I hope this article on how to encrypt an email in gmail helps you and the steps and method mentioned above are easy to follow and implement.
