How to encrypt email the easy way -- SecureMyEmail™

Are you looking for the easiest way to encrypt email? You're in luck. In this article we will show you how you can add encryption to any email account in a few minutes using SecureMyEmail. The best part is, not only does it work with any email provider, including Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc., but also on your Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. Need some convincing we're the best option? Good, because we love to brag.

So, you've probably noticed that most internet articles on how to encrypt email are completely useless.

  • Companies with no real email encryption product
  • Prehistoric methods using S/MIME and PGP
  • Older services that are complicated and expensive
  • Services that make you change your email address or carrier

Luckily, this article is different. We can have you sending and receiving encrypted email — using your current email addresses -- in just a few minutes.

Wait. How can we make such a bold claim? Are we sorcerers? Maybe we’re self-aware AI bots from the future that are desirous of your juicy emails to your ex or tax preparer? Nope. Nothing that cool.

We’re basically just “OG” encryption nerds that were getting tired of the relative scumminess of the VPN business and decided to do something new.

As it turns out, making email encryption easy was hard. Like, REALLY hard. But, driven by the promises of late-stage capitalism and our waning youth, we persevered and actually did it with SecureMyEmail™

What makes SecureMyEmail the best way to encrypt email?

  • You can encrypt ANY business or personal email account with no need to transfer or switch providers.
  • Recipients DON'T need to use our software, register, access a portal, or know a password. As long as they have an email address, they are all set.
  • Super easy to set up and use. We've hidden all the complicated encryption stuff.
  • You can send and receive encrypted email on all your devices. Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS.
  • Zero-knowledge End-to-End Encryption
  • Only $3.99/month or $29.99/year per user. Or, combine with our VPN service for only $59.88/year.

But, my email provider says they are already “encrypted.”

Many email providers kind of dance around the facts here. They may use TLS (transport layer security) to protect email “in transit.” Or, they might talk about how your emails are protected from the client to their server or how their servers are encrypted, yada, yada, yada.

What they aren’t telling you is that none of that is equal to zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption.

The encryption that SecureMyEmail offers, encrypts your email in transit AND at rest, regardless of whether the recipient or their email provider is secure. YOU control the encryption, not your email provider. That’s why when you encrypt an email with us, even your email provider can’t read it.😉

What about Gmail's confidential mode? Isn’t that encrypted email?

Not really. Although Gmail’s confidential mode is better than nothing, it isn’t end-to-end encrypted, or even encrypted at rest. With SecureMyEmail, you can encrypt your Gmail and even Google can’t read it. Now, THAT’S confidential.

How do I encrypt email for free?

You can encrypt email for free with SecureMyEmail. Our free plan allows you to encrypt a single Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Microsoft consumer (Hotmail, Outlook) email address as long as it uses their standard domain name (gmail.com, etc.) If your email address has a different domain name, or you need to encrypt multiple email accounts, you can use our paid service at $3.99/mo or $29.99/year.

Can’t I just encrypt email myself with PGP and S/MIME?

Technically, yes. But, unless you truly love things like putting together IKEA furniture or going to the DMV, we wouldn’t recommend it.😉 We’ll just mention the main reasons you don’t want to encrypt email yourself.

  1. It’s super complicated. Like, for real.
  2. Every device will require software from different makers and be its own separate nightmare to set up.
  3. You’ll have to perform what is called a “key exchange” or “certificate exchange” with every single person you wish to exchange encrypted email with. This will need to be done per email address and per device. And, yes, that is as much fun as it sounds.
  4. PGP users can only encrypt email with PGP users.
  5. S/MIME users can only encrypt email with S/MIME users.
  6. SecureMyEmail solves all the above so you can do something more enjoyable with your life.

Can I see SecureMyEmail in action?

Sure. Assuming you’ve already downloaded the software for your device and followed the easy built-in setup instructions, here is what it looks like to send an encrypted email.

We’re using a Gmail account on a MacBook Pro, but the setup and sending process is identical on Mac, Windows, iOS, iPad, and Android.

1. COMPOSE MESSAGE

From INBOX, click COMPOSE and the New Message window will open. We are sending this message to our info@ mailbox which is not enrolled in SecureMyEmail so you can see what it looks like when sending to a recipient that is NOT using SecureMyEmail.

2. CHOOSE EMAIL ENCRYPTION OPTION

When you click the SEND button, you have two encryption options (Send Encrypted and Send Encrypted+). 

Send Encrypted - just select an expiration date (one hour up to 30 days) and send it. No password, key exchange, software, or registration is required by the recipient(s). 

NOTE: You will always retain an encrypted copy of the email in your SENT and ENCRYPTED folders if you ever need to review or resend it. 

Send Encrypted+ - If you believe your recipient’s email is compromised (or they are being pursued by extraterrestrials with nefarious intentions or something), this method uses symmetrical encryption using the renowned ChaCha20-Poly1305 cipher suite. It will require the recipient to know a password to decrypt.

You will create and enter the password as shown below and then send it to your recipient via text, phone, carrier pigeon, telepathy...or just use the optional HINT field so they can deduce it themselves.

Although this method is largely overkill, it does ensure absolute zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption. Even if your recipient’s email is hacked, the email and attachments are encrypted and inaccessible without the password. Which they won't have. ;-)

3. WHAT THE RECIPIENT SEES WHEN THEY RECEIVE YOUR ENCRYPTED EMAIL

The recipient will just receive a regular email. We do add “(encrypted)” to the subject to be fancy and help the email stand out a bit more.

When they click “Unlock Message”, this will verify they are the owner of the email account and we will thank them. They only need to do this once. If you continue the conversation, they do NOT have to verify again.

They will then receive a second email. We add "(verified)" to the subject.

When they click "View Secure Message" we open an encrypted tunnel from their device to our secure server where they read the message. If there are attachments, they can securely download them here too.

They can then reply, and we will encrypt the email and send back to you.

4. WHAT YOU SEE WHEN THEY REPLY

The email is highlighted in the SecureMyEmail software with a padlock to show it is encrypted. You can now reply, delete, or save the message. You will also retain a secure copy in your SENT and ENCRYPTED folders.

NOTE: You will see encrypted messages in any email client/webmail that you use, but you will only be able to read and reply to encrypted  emails in your SecureMyEmail software or mobile apps.

OK. This sounds good. To encrypt email with SecureMyEmail, do I have to register for some soul-crushing webinar, give you my credit card, or be forced to do a zoom call with your over-caffeinated sales bros?

No! In fact, you don't ever have to talk to us at all if you don't want to. Just download the free 30-day trial and, if you like it, you can buy a subscription through the software. If you are a business and would like us to merge your accounts onto a single invoice, just email the aforementioned sales bros and they will take care of that for you.

If SecureMyEmail is not a fit, or you just feel you don't deserve to be happy, no problem and just delete it. But, if you'd like to talk about it, or have a question, give us a shout.


SecureMyEmail - Frequently Asked Questions

How long does SecureMyEmail take to set up?

SecureMyEmail is shockingly easy to set up. You’ll be sending encrypted email in a few minutes.

Does SecureMyEmail have a limit on how many encrypted emails I can send?

Nope. Even the free versions have unlimited sending and receiving.

Are software updates included with SecureMyEmail?

Yes. Free and paid plans enjoy unlimited software updates.

Can I send an encrypted email to several recipients at once? Can they all reply encrypted?

Yes. You can go back-and-forth with multiple recipients and all conversations will remain encrypted.

Do I have to use the SecureMyEmail software to send and read encrypted email?

You can continue to use your current email set up, but you will need to use one of our apps to send and read your encrypted email. You’ll see your encrypted email in all your email programs, but it will be encrypted. This is pretty seamless though, because we run in any browser tab and on your mobile devices. We are planning plugins for certain third party clients in the future.

Are attachments sent through SecureMyEmail protected by encryption also?

Yes. Attachments are encrypted as well when you send and receive encrypted email.

What kind of encryption does SecureMyEmail use to encrypt email?

We use a combination of several methods including old school asymmetrical encryption using OpenPGP and the latest in symmetrical encryption using the ChaCha20-Poly1305 cipher suite.

Can recipients of my encrypted email reply encrypted and their attachments are secure also?

Yes. All recipients of encrypted email sent with SecureMyEmail can reply back and all contents will be fully protected with our encryption.

Can SecureMyEmail make my email HIPAA-compliant?

Yes. Start the 30-Day Free Trial, and purchase through software. Then, contact us for your signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA). That’s all there is to it.

Can SecureMyEmail make my email compliant with GDPR, FERPA, CCPA, etc.?

Yes. Absolutely. We exceed all regulatory requirements for protection of data.

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