Is Email Encryption Transparent to Recipients?

A non-encrypted email message is not a secure form of communication. When you send an email message, different servers keep copied caches of the message for an unspecified amount of time. A hacker with the right tools can retrieve these messages using traffic monitors or packet sniffers. Email encryption systems help to prevent hackers from accessing email messages. These encryption systems use either transparent encryption or require the email’s recipient to enter a code to unlock the message.

  1. Email Encryption

    • Non-transparent email encryption uses a digital signature that requires the email’s recipient to enter a key to open the email message. Advanced encryption standards, or AES, is an encryption protocol used by the United States Government and many private businesses around the world. AES uses a symmetric-key algorithm to encrypt and decrypt the information transmitted. This technology supports key sizes up to 256 characters to secure the transmission.

    Transparent Email Encryption

    • Transparent email encryption means the user is not aware of the encryption. This type of encryption provides convenience while helping to ensure the security of an email message. Transparent email encryption does not require any type of added user verification. Many third-party companies offer transparent email encryption. These companies use private servers to encrypt the email message sent between two parties. This process occurs automatically and does not require the installation of software on either side of the correspondence.

    Phishing

    • Phishing is a tactic used to lure victims into divulging sensitive information through email messages. For example, a phishing email might direct a user to a fake bank website that asks for user login information. Once armed with this information, hackers use your information to access your accounts. A transparent email encrypting service can help protect you from phishing attacks by verifying the source of email messages.

    Access

    • Using a transparent email encryption service also offers the ability to track who accessed your email account and when. Additionally, these services can help to protect sensitive information by making sure the information gets to the right person. For example, if you send an email message to the wrong person, you can use the email encryption service to prevent the person from opening the email message, or revoke access to the email message after the recipient has opened the email message.

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