Why Should I Encrypt My Emails?

The Internet comprises of many connected computers (servers). When you send an electronic message, it travels between these servers to its destination. There are many ways for third parties to get their hands on traveling emails and instant mesages, such as:

1. Listening/scanning a connection (often wireless).
2. Make/find copies of communication on servers (some servers makes copies of all traffic before passing it forward!).
3. Distribution (in many cases as a virus) of malicious code that installs itself, then finds and sends information stored on your computer.
4. Many other sneaky ways that we do not even know about..

Since it is not possible to (effectively) secure the transportation of the communication, the way to ensure the integrity of the message is to make it unreadable for anyone but the intended receiver. This is done through encryption

Anyone sending confidential information electronically should use an encryption solution. Sending unencrypted is similar to sending regular mail without an envelope - very easy for anyone along the deliveryline to get their hands on.

Analysts and industry experts agree that information theft has increased dramatically during recent years, and is likely to keep doing so.

Interesting links:

► en.wikipedia.org/wiki/encryption

► en.wikipedia.org/wiki/email

► en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hacker