How To Secure Your Email With SSL Or TLS?

When it comes to email security and privacy, we all think that our emails are safe since we have unique passwords. Some of us are already aware of things that hackers do. But, the hard truth is that all the emails are insecure. Surprised? For instance, did you ever realize that messages you believed were erased ages ago may be hanging on servers mid-way around the globe? Or the messages you send or receive can be read and altered in transit, even before they arrive their destination.  

This article will help you learn facts about how essential SSL or TLS is to encrypt your email messages.

In order to secure your email perfectly, you ought to encrypt 3 main things, one is a connection from your email provider, next is your archived messages (Stored or cache), the last one is your actual email messages.

If you just leave the connection from your email provider to your PC or laptop which is unencrypted while you send, receive, or check messages, the number of chances are more for others who are on your network to easily capture your login credentials. This sort of scenario occurs especially when you use an open or a public network like a coffee shop.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Who Should Encrypt Emails?

Mainly, lawyers and accountants should definitely encrypt their emails since they hold 100% sensitive information which usually comes out as a hosted service or plug-in module for desktop client program, Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird. Even e-commerce sites should encrypt their emails because of the promotional emails they send to their customers so there are chances to hack such emails and steal valuable customersinformation.

Protect Your Email Connections

In order to secure the connection between your email provider and your PC or any other device, you will need to set up an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security). Are you wondering what these are? SSL and TLS are the same things that provide ultimate security when you do an online transaction or e-commerce purchase.

If you check your email using a browser whether you use a PC, Smartphone, or laptop make sure that the SSL or TLS encryption is active. For example, if you open your Gmail account, the website URL starts with https://mail.google.com/mail/. But instead of HTTPS, if you see HTTP, then you should be able to see extra indication like a notification right next to the address bar.

In case you don't see "https" in the address bar or other notifications even after logging into your email account, then type letter "s" at the end of "http" in the address bar and click enter. If your email provider supports SSL or TLS, that instruction will normally advise it to encrypt your existing connection. Later, check your account settings to see whether you can :

Directly activate your default for further logins

Create a shortcut or bookmark your email website using the secure connection "https"

If you can't, then do check with your provider because they may not support SSL or TLS.

If you use Microsoft Outlook, or a tablet or smartypants app to check your email you can still try using SSL/TLS encryption. But the point is that it is harder to set up. But if you still want to do it, then follow the following steps.  

Step 1 - Open your email or app

Step 2 - Navigate to Settings Menu

Step 3 - Your Account will now be marked as POP/SMTP, IMAP/SMTP, HTTP.

Step 4 - Search for an option to activate the encryption in the advanced settings

If you are using an Exchange email account for your office use, let's say, you will likely find a specific area for security settings where you can see whether the encryption is activated or not for the outgoing and incoming connections for your Exchange account. In case it is not activated, you can check with your email provider to see if the email provider supports encryption and switches to a service that a lets the secure encryption.

Keep Your Conversations Private by Encrypting Email  

Encrypt your email conversations even before they reach their destination, but for that, both you and the other person (recipient) should do some basic work in order to secure your messages properly. Users can either utilize encryption features that are built to their email service or directly download software or client add-ons for their encryption. Otherwise, you can also utilize a web-based encrypted email service like JumbleMe though the 3-rd party is involved.

Final Thoughts

Email encryption is robust approach to make sure your confidential conversations remain private, safe, and secure as it protects your both personal and financial information. Even if the information is in wrong hands, your information will be safe since it is unreadable. Initially, protecting your data could seem a little work but the advantages are uncountable.