
The public key has to be shared with all the recipients who will use this secure and private “channel” of communication. OpenPGP uses Public Key Cryptography, which means that a public and private key pair is generated. One of the end-to-end data encryption standards is called OpenPGP, where PGP stands for “Pretty Good Privacy.” This method can be used to encrypt email contents, including attached files. This means that the email you are about to send is encrypted at the source end and it only gets decrypted at the endpoint. Email message and attachment encryptionĮnd-to-end encryption (E2EE) can be used to encrypt your email messages before you send them, to stop snoopers from reading them even if they intercept your emails at an earlier (or later) stage.

STARTTLS is one of the most commonly used extensions for making email servers encrypt plain text communications. This means that the connection between your email provider’s server and the receiver’s email server in encrypted, securing your communications as they make their way between email providers. When we talk about email encryption and security, there are four basic ways to approach it: Therefore, more and more ways of encrypting were developed to keep online communications safe and private. However, as email came to be used for more and more sensitive information, this method proved to be way too vulnerable. Originally, the communication between the sender and recipient email servers was done in plain text.
HOW TO ENCRYPT AN ATTACHMENT IN OUTLOOK 2013 HOW TO
Now, let’s see what email encryption is in more detail, as well as how to encrypt email messages on different platforms.

If your email privacy is a must, it’s best to use a service like the ones mentioned above, so you don’t have to take care of the encryption yourself. Many people use end-to-end encryption services like the Switzerland-based ProtonMail, Tutanota, Hushmail, and others to protect their email communications. This will help you avoid prying eyes and the unfortunate consequences of being exposed.Īs a matter of fact, instant messaging services like Messenger, Skype, and WhatsApp already use end-to-end encryption to provide privacy and security for their users.Įmail encryption ensures that even if your message gets intercepted by hackers or cybercriminals, they won’t be able to decrypt and read it well, at least not in this century, though technology can improve, of course.

Since you don’t want your personal information to land in the wrong hands, you may want to learn how to encrypt email messages. Sending sensitive information, such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, login credentials, etc., can be like sending a regular letter with personal details: anyone who opens it can read it on its way to the destination. By email encryption, we mean encoding an email message to protect potentially sensitive information from being read by anyone other than intended recipients. One of the reasons for this could be a lack of knowledge about the possible threats of sending unencrypted messages. Email encryption methods have been around for 30 years, yet so few people use them.
