Gmail's 'Confidential Mode' to Protect Emails

 

Gmail uses a technology called Google TLS (also known as standard encryption) to keep emails private. However, there are ways to increase the security of personal information sent via email, including using Google's 'Confidential Mode.

In 2018, Google introduced Confidential Mode for Gmail.

An 'expiration' can be added to the email or message sent through it. The message expires after a specified period, as desired by the sender. In this case, the recipient cannot copy, forward, or download the expired message.

Confidential mode on PC or laptop browser:

Open the Gmail site and first go to the composer and write a new message or message. Find the locked clock icon to the right of the Send button and click on it.

After that, you will get an opportunity to fix the message expiration in the pop-up window. The period can be from one day to 5 years.

Below the expiration date, you’ll see an applicable password category. If the person you're mailing to has Gmail, and you want extra security, choose SMS Passcode.
In that case, the recipient will also have to enter a passcode to read this confidential message, which will be sent as a text message (SMS) to their phone number. If the recipient does not have Gmail, they will receive a passcode in the email even if you do not select the SMS passcode option. Messages cannot be viewed without this passcode.

A notification will appear along the bottom of the message to confirm that the message has been sent in confidential mode.