Gmail Encryption

J. R. Raphael discusses Gmail encryption. Raphael describes the basic security provided with all gmail accounts, as well as additional options available at various price points for specific vendors.

Raphael also reviews (pans) Gmail's "Confidential Mode":

The idea is that it lets you prevent someone from forwarding, copying, printing, and downloading anything you send them — and, if you want, lets you set an expiration date after which your message will no longer be accessible. You can also create a passcode, delivered via email or text message, that's required in order to open the message.
That all sounds nice enough on the surface, but the problem is that it doesn't really do a heck of a lot when it comes to actual security. Messages still aren't encrypted in any end-to-end manner, meaning Google (and other mail services) are still able to view and store them. The "no forwarding, copying, printing, and downloading" bit doesn't mean much, either, since anyone can still take a screenshot of a message if they're so inclined.

-DD