To send secure email in Gmail, there are two main approaches depending on your account type:
- Use Confidential Mode (available to all Gmail users for basic security):
- Compose a new email.
- Click the "Toggle confidential mode" icon (a lock with a clock) at the bottom of the compose window.
- Set an expiration date for the email and choose if an SMS passcode is required.
- Save and send the email.
Confidential mode disables forwarding, copying, printing, and downloading for recipients but does not fully encrypt the email and does not prevent screenshots or other ways someone might capture the email content.
- Use S/MIME encryption (for Google Workspace paid accounts and some education/work accounts):
- Your Google Workspace admin enables S/MIME encryption in the Google Admin console.
- Users upload their personal S/MIME certificates.
- Gmail encrypts emails end to end, allowing only recipients with the correct certificate key to read the message.
- Encryption works only if the recipient also has S/MIME enabled.
This method offers stronger encryption but requires organizational setup and certificate management.
Additionally, new end-to-end encryption features in Gmail aim to make encryption seamless without complex setups, especially for Google Workspace customers, enhancing privacy by encrypting emails on the client side before sending.
In summary, for basic secure sending in Gmail, use Confidential Mode. For stronger encryption, use S/MIME through Google Workspace with admin setup and certificate exchange. If more details on step-by-step instructions or additional tools for secure email sending are needed, that can be provided.
