How can you benefit from encrypted email services?

1 What is encrypted email?

Encrypted email is a way of sending and receiving messages that are protected by encryption, which is a process of transforming data into an unreadable format that can only be decoded by authorized parties. Encryption prevents anyone who intercepts your email from reading its contents, modifying its content, or tracking its origin and destination. There are different types of encryption, such as end-to-end encryption, which ensures that only the sender and the recipient can access the email, and server-side encryption, which encrypts the email on the provider's server.

2 How does encrypted email work?

Encrypted email works by using a pair of keys, which are codes that are used to encrypt and decrypt messages. The sender has a public key, which is shared with anyone who wants to send them an encrypted email, and a private key, which is kept secret and used to decrypt the messages they receive. The recipient also has a public and a private key. When the sender wants to send an encrypted email, they use the recipient's public key to encrypt the message, and then send it to the recipient's address. The recipient then uses their private key to decrypt the message and read it.

3 What are the benefits of encrypted email?

Encrypted email offers numerous advantages in terms of security, privacy, and control. It protects your messages from hackers, cybercriminals, and malicious actors, as well as from unauthorized access by third parties. Encrypted email also prevents your email from being scanned for advertising or used as evidence in legal cases. Moreover, it gives you more control over your data, allowing you to decide who can read your messages, how long they are stored, and how they are deleted. You can even revoke access to your messages or set them to self-destruct after a certain period of time.

4 What features to look for in an encrypted email service?

When choosing an encrypted email service, there are several features to look for. End-to-end encryption ensures that messages remain encrypted until they reach the recipient's device, and that no one else can access them. Open source code allows independent experts to audit the service and ensure there are no hidden backdoors, bugs, or vulnerabilities. Zero-knowledge means that the email provider does not store or collect any information about your messages. Additionally, user-friendly services should be easy to use and compatible with existing accounts, devices, and applications so that you can send and receive encrypted emails without difficulty.

5 How to get started with encrypted email?

Getting started with encrypted email is not as complicated as it might seem. You can choose from several encrypted email services, such as ProtonMail, Tutanota, or Mailfence, that offer free or affordable plans, and that have simple and intuitive interfaces. You can sign up for an encrypted email account, generate your keys, and start sending and receiving encrypted emails in minutes. You can also invite your contacts to join the encrypted email service, or use a feature called PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), which allows you to exchange encrypted emails with anyone who has a PGP-compatible email client.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?