The state of email encryption
Secret Letters
Email encryption is not that difficult – and it is more important now than ever before. We take a look at some important tools and trends in email encryption.
From the point of view of a mail server, and therefore also its administrator, emails are simply ASCII text files that are transferred from server to server. They end up on the filesystem both in transit and at the destination as a text file that is freely readable for the administrator. Reading mail is no problem for administrators, even if the individual message is quickly lost due to the huge numbers. But if you know what you are looking for, you can read whatever you want. Cyber criminals often hack email inboxes and systematically analyze the messages they find.
Email has existed for a generation, and the problem of email security is nearly as ancient. This article offers some thoughts on the state of email encryption today, including what works and some complications you might want to know about.
SSL/TLS and Beyond
The first step in securing email is securing the communication channel. Most well-known and responsible providers now provide secure connections to and from their mail servers by means of SSL/TLS encryption, so that the data crosses the Internet in an encrypted format.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.