Sure communications I ship require additional safety, also called encryption, which most Android e mail shoppers can not ship. Encryption ensures the emails I ship to particular recipients can solely be learn by these with an identical key to decrypt the contents of the e-mail.
You may want a third-party app for this stage of safety on Android. For encryption in e mail, you will require a unique e mail shopper, as Gmail will not lower it. I favor Thunderbird on Android as a result of it is an impressive e mail shopper, works with PGP (Fairly Good Privateness), and is an open-source utility.
Additionally: The Thunderbird email client finally landed on Android, and it was worth the wait
The app I selected for encryption on Android is OpenKeychain. This software makes it straightforward so as to add encryption to Android.
Let me present you the way it works.
Putting in OpenKeychain
What you will want:Â The one factor you will want is an Android system (telephone or pill) and a sound Google account. That is it. Let’s make some encryption magic.
Log in to your telephone or pill and open the Google Play Retailer app.
Sort OpenKeychain within the search discipline. When the entry seems, faucet it after which faucet Set up so as to add the app to your system.
Putting in OpenKeychain on Android is so simple as a single faucet.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Creating your first key
The following step is to create your first key. This is how.
1. Open the newly put in app
Swipe up on your property display to open the App Drawer. Scroll down till you find OpenKeychain and faucet the launcher.Â
2. Create your key
In the principle window, faucet Create My Key. You’ll then be required to stroll by means of a easy wizard that can have you ever:
- Sort your identify (or a nickname)
- Add an e mail for the important thing
- Optionally allow the important thing to be accessible by way of keyservers
As soon as you’ve got completed the above steps, faucet Create Key on the backside proper.
You’ll be able to create your key and a safety token — and even import keys from recordsdata.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
One of many cool issues about OpenKeychain is that it is simple to share your public key (bear in mind, a key’s a pair with a non-public and public key). After you create your key, you possibly can faucet the entry, the place you will see choices for sharing and copying.Â
Additionally:Â 3 ways to stop Android apps running in the background – and why I always do
For different individuals to ship you an encrypted e mail, they’re going to should ship you their public key; so that you can ship others an encrypted e mail, you will should ship them your public key.Â
You’ll be able to share your key with others to allow them to ship you encrypted messages.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
With OpenKeychain, you possibly can simply import keys (from a file) by tapping the + button on the principle web page and tapping “Import from File”.
To import a recipient’s key, faucet “Import from File”.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Including encryption to Thunderbird for Android
Thunderbird is not the one Android e mail app that helps encryption, but it surely’s the one I take advantage of, so we’ll be working with that software. You’ll be able to set up Thunderbird for Android from the Google Play Store.
1. Open Thunderbird Settings
After you’ve got put in Thunderbird and added your e mail account, faucet the menu button within the upper-left nook after which faucet the gear icon on the backside of the sidebar. From the checklist of e mail accounts, faucet the one you wish to work with encryption.
The gear icon seems on the backside of the Thunderbird sidebar.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
2. Navigate to “Finish-to-end encryption”
On the backside of the “Account settings” web page, faucet “Finish-to-end encryption”.
3. Allow OpenPGP help
On the “Finish-to-end encryption” web page, guarantee “Allow OpenPGP help” is enabled by taping the On/Off slider till it is within the On place.Â
Ensure you’re enabling OpenPGP help for the proper e mail account.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
4. Choose your key
Below the Allow entry, faucet the “Utilizing key” line after which, when prompted, choose the important thing you wish to use for encryption (this would be the key you created in OpenKeychain).
Faucet “Utilizing key” to pick out the important thing you wish to use.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Return to the principle Thunderbird window now that you have added PGP help. Hopefully, at this level, you’ve got imported a PGP key from a recipient that can obtain an encrypted e mail from you. Faucet the Compose button after which faucet the menu button on the high proper (three vertical dots).Â
From that menu, faucet Allow Encryption. As soon as you’ve got accomplished that, sort the recipient’s e mail deal with (for which you’ve got added the PGP key), and the lock icon ought to flip inexperienced, which suggests the e-mail is encrypted. Now you can sort your e mail and ship it.
Additionally:Â 3 ways to stop Android apps running in the background – and why I always do
Do not forget that the recipient’s e mail shopper should additionally help encryption. In any other case, they’re going to have to save lots of the encrypted attachment and decrypt it manually.
And there we go — you’ve got simply added encryption to Android for an additional layer of safety.Â
