Gmail Now Calls Out Fishy, Unencrypted Emails

Today happens to be Safer Internet Twenty-four hour period, and Google is celebrating the occasion by upping Gmail security.

The Web giant is rolling out a pair of changes for Gmail on the Web to assistance you easily identify letters that are unencrypted and/or can't exist authenticated.

Gmail already supports encryption in transit by using Transport Layer Security (TLS, the successor to SSL), and volition automatically encrypt your incoming and outgoing emails to help combat e-mail impersonation. Not all email services offer such protection, still, so Google is now specifically calling out unencrypted messages.

"Of course, it takes at least two people to send and receive an email, so information technology's really of import that other services take like measures to protect your messages — not just Gmail," Google Product Manager John Rae-Grant wrote in a web log postal service. "Unfortunately, non all email services do."

So, Google will add a red broken lock icon (see prototype beneath) to whatever message that was sent from an email service that does non support TLS encryption. You lot'll besides see this icon when you're about to send a bulletin to someone whose electronic mail service does not back up this security protocol.

Moreover, if you receive a message that can't be authenticated — significant Gmail can't verify the sender — you'll now see a question mark in place of the person's profile photograph, corporate logo, or avatar.

Gmail unauthenticated sender

"Not all affected email volition necessarily be dangerous," Rae-Grant wrote. "But we encourage you to be extra careful almost replying to, or clicking on links in messages that you're non certain almost. And with these updates, you lot'll have the tools to make these kinds of decisions."

Meanwhile, Google is also jubilant Safer Cyberspace Solar day by giving away 2GB of free Drive storage to anyone who completes its account Security Checkup at present through Feb. eleven.

This commodity originally appeared on PCMag.com.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag'southward skilful on fettle and smart home products. Teaching yoga for nearly x years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected wellness products including fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela too tests smart abode devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to name a few.