How to Encrypt Email: What Everyone Needs to Know About Information Protection for Messages

When talking about how to encrypt email, people need to understand that they need to be encrypting three things. This information protection process requires work on three layers. First and foremost, one needs to make sure the connection between her or his computer to the email service provider is secure. Second, they need to make sure that messages are sent and received through a secure channel. And lastly, if they use email clients like Outlook or Thunderbird, they need to encrypt the messages stored in the computer. By making sure of that these three are followed, it is then and only then that information protection is assured.

How to Encrypt Email: Encrypting Email Connections

First and foremost, information protection should start at the web server. People who check their emails primarily through a browser need to be aware if their browsing is encrypted. The risk to information protection doubles if they are browsing on a non-secure window using a public network. To prevent others from stealing their email credentials, they need to make sure the connection between their computer or device and the web server is encrypted.

One sure way to tell if they are browsing on an encrypted channel is if they see a lock icon in the address bar. Another way to make sure their information protection is working is if the address starts with https:// instead of just http:. If they don't see any of these, they will need to make sure that Secure Sockets Layer and Transport Layer security encryption are activated and working. These can usually be set up in the browser settings. Going through the browser settings can do wonders for information protection.

How to Encrypt Email: Encrypting Email Messages in Transit

Good information protection for email messages involves encryption between two points: the sending and receiving ends. This is because information protection can be compromised while the message is traveling to the receiver. When this happens, a hacker intercepts the message. By making sure that the sender and receiver encrypts their messages, the emails gain a measure of information protection by being unreadable to anyone not involved in the channel. They do not have the method to decrypt the message.

To encrypt messages before they are sent and received, users can use online encryption services. The only caveat to this is they are entrusting their messages to a third party. For better information protection, senders and receivers can opt to use encryption software or email client plug-ins like OpenPGP. They can also likewise install security certificates that utilize protocols like S/MIME or Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. Using these methods are a small price to pay for better information protection.

How to Encrypt Email: Encrypting Client Email Messages

For people who love using email clients like Outlook or Thunderbird, they are essentially compromising their information protection if the local storage for the messages is left un-encrypted. This is so because if hackers gain access to the drive, they can just browse through the directories and find where the messages are being stored. Once they do, the user's information protection will become toast.

What they need to do for better information protection is to browse through the local drive, check the file directories of the email client, and find the folder where the messages are being stored. They can then, for the interest of their information protection, right-click on the folder and choose to encrypt the folder itself. This can usually be done on Windows computers by right clicking on the folder, going to Properties, clicking on Advanced, and putting a tick mark on Encrypt contents to secure data. They can also choose to encrypt all the files in the computer for better all-around information protection.

How to Encrypt Email: Easy Encryption with Comodo Free Email Certificates

For greater information protection, users can avail of Comodo's Free Email Certificates. The free email certificates guarantee information protection by making sure the emails users send are encrypted beforehand. Since the certificates provide encryption of up to 256 bit security, security is tight.

The sender will also affix their signature on the message to show authenticity. Receivers therefore are assured that the sender is the actual person they're communicating with and not some cybercriminal. When receivers become used to the signature being present, they will become aware if a message from the sender has been faked if there is no signature involved or if the signature looks different.

Aside from providing better information protection and that it's free, Comodo's Secure Email Certificate is easy to install and works with major email clients.

How to Encrypt Email: Comodo Antispam Gateway

And for the best information protection for messages, there's the Comodo Antispam Gateway. Aside from blocking malware and viruses sent through email, the antispam gateway also works on information protection proactively through the use of:

Reputation Network (RN)
e-mail, IP or domain-based whitelisting/blacklisting
SMTP IPS/Firewall
Domain Keys Antispoofing technology
blocking of invalid email recipients and senders

These features go beyond merely the knowledge of how to encrypt email, they are add-ons that ensure information protection is above and beyond the ordinary.

By learning the ways how to encrypt email, one can ensure protection against identity theft and hacking. By actively ensuring connections between sender, receiver, and mail server, as well as local copies of messages, are covered by top-notch encryption, one doesn't just cover the bases for information protection, they are also safekeeping their own reputation. And most importantly, they are keeping their ability to create trust online.

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