Email Encryption - How it works & a list of FREE Encryption Programs

Email encryption is the transformation of an email using a cipher to make it readable only to the intended recipient.  We have all heard about or personally experienced some type of identity theft.  As technology leads us into the future, our personal and vital information becomes more vulnerable to theft.  Society has become dependent on computers and other technological products to run and control our everyday activities.  Common sense suggests we take some simple steps to protect what is important to us. 

Encrypting an email is like placing a check in an envelope.  The envelope protects its contents during its travel.  When the envelope reaches its recipient, its intended receiver then opens it.  The encryption is the envelope and its contents are your messages, pictures, or files.  The encryption will keep all but the highly skilled hackers from intercepting your personal messages. 

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is how typical email encryption works.  PKI is a very simple and user-friendly encryption system.  You utilize a public and private key.  The private key is yours to keep under lock and key.  The public key can be given to anyone.  When someone sends you an email, they are to use your public key.  The email can only be opened with your private key.  All else who tries to read the email will have a message filled with random letters.  When sending an email you also use your private key and it will identify you as the sender. 

Before you run to the store and look for a high tech, expensive email encryption program, check out the following free programs:

1. isafeguard freeware 6.2 – Services files and emails and supports MS outlook, express, hotmail and other applications.
2. Hush mail – Web based email service that uses JAVA applet to encrypt and decrypt.
3. sbwave – Uses a web form and has no software to install or no user sign up is required.
4. flexcrypt free – Encrypts email, text, files, MSN, and ICQ.
5. Safe express – Free version of their commercial product.
6. Crypt4free 5.45 – Encrypts files and emails and uses two encryption algorithms to protect files – Blowfish and DESX.
7. TrueCrypt 7.0a – Encrypts entire partitions and storage devices.  Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.  The encryption is real time and automatic.  A unique quality is that it provides plausible deniability if you are ever forced to reveal your password.
8. Comodo – Encrypts emails with ease.  Works with most major mail clients and easily changes digital signatures.