E mail is among the most handy communication channels for companies and people, because of its accessibility. However this additionally makes e-mail prone to cybercriminals who try to entry delicate information by intercepting emails in transit or hacking into e-mail servers.
One of many major traces of protection in opposition to this assault is e-mail encryption, a extensively used option to safe the knowledge despatched over e-mail.
Now, you in all probability have a flurry of questions on this subject, like:
- What’s e-mail encryption?
- How do encrypted emails work?
- Why do you have to encrypt emails?
Learn on to search out the solutions to those and different widespread questions on encryption and find out how Twilio SendGrid secures emails in transit.
What’s e-mail encryption?
Before everything, e-mail encryption scrambles the content material of an e-mail, changing it into an unreadable format known as ciphertext. As soon as an e-mail is encrypted, solely a licensed person (the recipient) can decrypt it and look at the unique message. Anybody else who tries to intercept the message will solely be capable to see the ciphertext—thus, defending the contents of the e-mail.
How does e-mail encryption work?
E mail encryption makes use of cryptographic keys or strings of characters that change the unique information to seem random. And in contrast to the straightforward cryptographic keys that individuals can create, e-mail encryption providers generate keys utilizing advanced algorithms that scramble the information past human recognition.
So how do senders and recipients use these keys to encrypt and decrypt messages? There are 2 methods:
- Symmetric cryptography: The sender and the recipient use a single, non-public key to encrypt and decrypt the message. This implies the sender must share the important thing with the recipient to allow them to decrypt the message.
- Uneven cryptography: The sender makes use of a public key to encrypt the message, then the recipient makes use of a non-public key (that solely they know) to decrypt it. That is also referred to as public-key cryptography, and in contrast to symmetric encryption, the sender and recipient don’t must share the important thing.
Nevertheless, at present, probably the most extensively used sorts of encryption are likely to depend on a mix of symmetric and uneven cryptography, as we’ll talk about later.
Why ought to senders encrypt emails?
Earlier than we reply that, let’s begin with a reminder that you must by no means ship delicate info, like passwords or Social Safety numbers, over e-mail.
That mentioned, emails typically include private details about the recipient, like their deal with, or enterprise info not meant for the general public. And with out encryption, dangerous actors might intercept that info and use it to commit identification theft, fraud, and different crimes in opposition to people or companies.
This is the reason encryption is so essential: it ensures that no particular person or entity intercepts the content material of the e-mail alongside the way in which or, in some circumstances, because it sits in e-mail servers.
Moreover, attributable to legal guidelines just like the Basic Knowledge Safety Laws, regulators can positive companies if clients’ private information is compromised. Nevertheless, encryption may help keep away from this.
Lastly, encryption is an important factor of e-mail safety that may finally influence the sender’s status and deliverability.
What are the various kinds of e-mail encryption?
There are 3 widespread sorts of e-mail encryption used at present. Let’s take a look at how these work, plus a safe various for sending extremely delicate info.
TLS
Transport layer safety (TLS) is a protocol that encrypts e-mail information because it travels from the sender’s e-mail server to the recipient’s—although it doesn’t encrypt it at its vacation spot. TLS makes use of uneven and symmetric cryptography to encrypt e-mail information. Which means it generates and exchanges a session key via uneven cryptography, then the sender and recipient use this key to encrypt and decrypt the message.
Many e-mail suppliers, together with SendGrid, use opportunistic TLS encryption by default (extra on this beneath). This prevents cybercriminals from studying the contents of an e-mail whereas it’s in transit, generally known as a man-in-the-middle assault.
Most net servers additionally use TLS for safe looking—you may acknowledge it because the lock image on an internet browser if you’re on a safe web site. Any such encryption replaces its predecessor, Safe Sockets Layer (SSL).
Subsequent, we’ll take a look at sorts of encryption that safe information on the server.
PGP
Fairly Good Privateness (PGP) was the primary profitable implementation of a public-key encryption resolution for e-mail.
Within the easiest phrases, PGP encryption works by producing a random session key that the sender encrypts utilizing the recipient’s public key. The sender then shares the encrypted session key with the recipient, who can decrypt it with their non-public key. Lastly, the recipient makes use of this session key to decrypt the message.
PGP encryption protects information because it travels and on the server. This is named data-at-rest encryption or end-to-end e-mail encryption, and it means solely the meant recipient can decrypt the message. Thus, it protects delicate info from cybercriminals who may goal your e-mail server.
To make use of PGP encryption, customers usually must obtain an add-on—suppliers like Outlook, Apple, and Thunderbird have PGP add-ons out there. Nevertheless, the sender and recipient should each set up the add-ons and allow PGP encryption to ship safe messages.
S/MIME
Safe/Multipurpose Web Mail Extensions (S/MIME) is a extensively used protocol for sending encrypted messages with a digital signature. Like PGP, S/MIME gives end-to-end encryption, securing messages in transit and on the e-mail server.
This protocol additionally allows the sender to digitally signal the message, authenticating their identification and the integrity of the information they ship. So it offers the recipient peace of thoughts that the message comes from a professional sender and nobody intercepted or altered the content material alongside the way in which.
S/MIME additionally makes use of uneven encryption, requiring public keys from a certificates authority. This implies the sender makes use of the recipient’s public key to encrypt the message, then the recipient decrypts it with their non-public key. Moreover, the sender makes use of their non-public key to digitally signal the message.
Most main e-mail suppliers—together with Microsoft (Change and Outlook), Google, and Apple—help S/MIME encryption via plugins. Nevertheless, each the sender and the recipient must allow S/MIME encryption to ship safe messages. Moreover, directors can arrange S/MIME encryption for all the e-mail customers of their group.
Net portal
Net portals are a safe various to make use of when it’s good to share extremely delicate information, corresponding to protected well being info or monetary info, because it’s greatest to not ship that info over e-mail. Not solely is it not well worth the threat of compromising the recipient’s information, however rules just like the Well being Insurance coverage Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) typically prohibit it.
With this technique, the sender notifies the recipient through e-mail that they’ve a brand new encrypted message. The recipient should then log into the safe portal to retrieve the message. This fashion, you’ll be able to nonetheless benefit from the comfort of speaking over e-mail whereas defending the recipient’s information and complying with rules like HIPAA.
Safe emails in transit with Twilio SendGrid
Need to understand how Twilio SendGrid secures your messages? By default, SendGrid makes use of opportunistic TLS encryption for outbound emails. This implies we try to ship e-mail over a TLS-encrypted connection so long as the recipient’s server accepts an inbound TLSv1.1 or larger connection. Nevertheless, if the recipient’s server doesn’t help TLS, we ship the message unencrypted.
You may also go for the enforced TLS setting, which lets you specify the recipient has to help TLS. Nevertheless, for those who select to implement TLS and the recipient’s inbox supplier doesn’t settle for the TLS encryption, we gained’t ship the message. You’ll see this as a block occasion with the outline “TLS required however not supported.”
Now that you’ve a greater understanding of e-mail encryption, be taught extra in regards to the different e-mail safety elements that influence sender status and deliverability in our 2022 E mail Deliverability Information.
Or for those who’re prepared to start out sending safe emails with SendGrid, join free at present.
