Secure Email Software to Send Encrypted Email

It is an established fact that there are several vested interests today who are snooping in on our web activities. Just like how you can protect your cloud data by signing up for encrypted storage solutions, you can also protect your email correspondence using secure email software. When you encrypt email, the contents of the email are converted from plain text to cipher text that is unreadable. Recipients are the only people who can decrypt its contents, with the help of a key. In this post, we take a look at some of the most popular tools available in the market to send secure encrypted email online.

7 Secure Email Software Tools

Infoencrypt

Infoencrypt is a free online service that uses the popular AES 128technology. Users will have to type or copy the email contents on the website and encrypt it with a password. The encrypted message will then have to be copied from the website and sent to recipients via email, or other applications. Users must also send the password (separately) to the email recipient. The recipient will then need to come back to the Infoencrypt website, paste the message in the text box provided, enter the password and hit Decrypt to read through the contents.

Pros:

You don’t have to install anything on your PC.

Cons:

• You must not lose your password as it cannot be retrieved.
• You have to copy and paste messages between your email client and the web interface, which may be a nuisance if you regularly want to send encrypted messages.

Visit Infoencrypt here.

Sendinc

Sendinc is another online service that offers complete end-to-end encryption with your email getting military grade treatment. It is free to use although you need to create an account to start using it. When you type out your message, or add an attachment it is sent to the Sendinc data centers using 256-bit SSL encryption. Then an encryption key is randomly generated and emailed to your recipients via a link. Recipients can login to their Sendinc account and receive the decoded message.

Pros:

• You don’t have to install anything on your PC.
• You don’t have to manage privacy keys.
• Works on any email client, and web-enabled device.

Cons:

• Both sender and receiver must have a Sendinc account.

Visit Sendinc here.

Encipherit

The next online tool we have is encipherit.com that protects your email and text messages with AES 256-bit encryption. If you are concerned about using the online version, you can download and make use of the desktop client. The process works by typing in your message in the form available on the website and hitting the Encipher It button. You then enter a password to encrypt the message. You can now send the message to the intended recipient and provide them with the password for decryption through another channel. Alternately, you can save the encrypted message to an online cloud storage solution, get a short link to it and share it. To decipher the message, the recipient must go to the website, paste the message, hit the Decipher It button and input the password. Alternately, you can use a bookmarklet, Chrome extension or the desktop version to read the message.

Pros:

• Software installation is optional.
• Allows for encryption of text and files on PC.
• Offers Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.com encryption with extensions and bookmarklets.

Cons:

• The online version requires copy and paste work.

Visit encipherit here.

Mailvelope

Mailvelope is a Chrome and Firefox browser extension that uses the OpenPGP encryption standard. It  uses public and private keys to encrypt and decrypt email. Both the sender and receiver of the email must know the public keys of each other to communicate securely. Mailvelope comes preconfigured for Gmail/Google Apps, Outlook, Yahoo! and GMX and adds the controls needed to encrypt and decrypt emails directly into the Webmail provider.

Pros:

• Offers integration with many popular browsers.
• Non-intrusive and easy to use.

Cons:

• Does not encrypt attachments.

Visit Mailvelope here.

Lockbin

Lockbin is a web app that lets you send secure email messages as well as file attachments for free. The app makes use of AES-256 bit encryption delivered from a FIPS 140-2 verified cryptolibrary. Lockbin currently offers a Java app, an Android app and an Outlook add-in. You’ll need to sign up for a free account to start using Lockbin without a password. Otherwise you can make use of the free secure form on the website to send encrypted email. Recipients can view the encrypted message only if they receive the password from you. The message which remains in encrypted form on the servers are removed when the recipient deletes the message or 24 hours after it is read. Unread messages are deleted after 6 months.

Pros:

• Offers apps that integrate with Outlook, Android and any device that supports Java.
• No registration required.
• Offers both free and paid plans.

Cons:

• Does not offer web extensions for use with web clients.

Visit Lockin website here.

Trend Micro Email Encryption Client

This is a plugin that works with Microsoft  Outlook. Just download the plugin, set it up using the wizard, and it will integrate with Outlook. The next time you want to send secure email, just hit the Send Private button and you email contents including attachments will be encrypted using 256-bit AES.

Pros:

• Works with Microsoft Outlook versions XP, Outlook 2003, Outlook 2007, and Outlook Express 6.
• Allows you to receive and view private email in your Web mail account or unsupported email program using the TMEEC Reader.

Cons:

• Only has use for Outlook users.

Check out this plugin on the official site.

Enigmail

Enigmail is a Thunderbird and Seamonkey plugin that lets you send and receive email messages using the OpenPGP standard. This plugin that lets you generate a key pair, a public and a private key to encrypt email and assure recipients that the email really came from you.  You will also need a passphrase to generate and use private keys and should you lose them you won’t be able to decipher the email contents.

Pros:

• Powerful free tool for Thunderbird users.

Cons:

• Works only for a specific program.
• Requires time and patience to figure out how to use it.

Visit Enigmail here.

If you know of any other secure email software programs that help you send encrypted email online, please so share them with us.