If you use Gmail and are concerned about the privacy and security of your emails, encryption can add an extra layer of protection. Learn all about encryption in standard Gmail and Gmail for Business, and how you can encrypt messages using some third-party options.
How to Send Encrypted Emails in Gmail
If you use a free Gmail account, your messages use Google’s standard encryption protocol, Transport Layer Security (TLS). TLS only works if the person you’re emailing uses an email provider that also supports TLS, but most major providers use TLS. Assuming two-way TLS compatibility, all messages you send through Gmail will be encrypted via TLS.
TLS makes it difficult for anyone to intercept your message as it travels to its recipient. However, it doesn’t promise to keep messages private between you and the recipient once they reach them. For example, Google sees messages associated with your account and scans them for potential spam and malicious email, and supports features like Smart Reply.
If the person you are emailing is using a mail server that does not use TLS, your message will not be encrypted. You probably don’t know, so choose carefully what you send.
