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Do I need an SSL for email?
If you haven’t figured it out by now, then no, you really don’t need an SSL for email.
However, you may need an SSL for your email if you work in a company where sensitive information is sent and received and you want to protect it from hackers. Then setting up an SSL for your email will make it secure.
Should I use SSL for email?
You should use an SSL for email for sending sensitive company information online over the internet.
In addition, if you’re dealing with any type of financial information like credit card numbers, bank accounts etc. then you should use an SSL for your email.
One more thing, if you’re also sending very sensitive documents that contain a lot of personal information about your company, yourselves or your clients, then you should definitely get an SSL for your email.
What happens if you don’t have an SSL certificate?
If you don’t have an SSL certificate for your email, then any emails that you do send, including attachments, are open and fair game for potential hackers.
Hackers can intercept your emails and extract information that they can then use to either commit fraud to your company or your clients.
They may even be able to blackmail you with sensitive information in exchange for a reward.
What is SSL when setting up email?
Setting up an SSL for your email is similar to setting up a paid SSL when you’re setting up your website.
However, your website will have a variety of SSL certificates to secure it, according to how secure you want your website to be.
When using and setting up an SSL for an email you need to take into account what kind of emails you send on a regular basis and to whom.
You also need to consider what kind of information including attachments you’re going to be sending back and forth between you and your recipients.
If it’s simple personal correspondence type emails or any emails that do not require the exchange of sensitive information, especially financial, contractual or even medical. Then you can get away with not getting an SSL for your email.
How do I get an SSL certificate for my mail server?
Yes, in fact, an SSL certificate for your emails only encrypts the emails, but doesn’t secure the transmission from your mail server to your recipient’s mail server.
Therefore, for added protection and to ensure that even your encrypted emails don’t get intercepted en route, getting an SSL certificate for your mail server is a must.
You can get an SSL certificate for your email and or your mail server by using a number of reputable internet security companies. Here are a few:
Make sure that they are members of the Certificate Authority (CA) that can issue an SSL certificate whether that’s for a website or for email.
In fact, browsers usually have a list built in them, whether you’re using Google, Mozilla or even Internet Explorer as far as which websites do carry a (CA) SSL certificate.
Can I use email without SSL?
Yes, you can use email without an SSL certificate. In fact, most emails travel over the internet unprotected.
With increases in hacking and phishing scams though, it’s getting more and more problematic to send emails freely over an unprotected world wide web.
Therefore, if it’s your personal email from your personal website, but that website or the information that you send, you want to keep confidential and encrypted, then you should get an SSL certificate for your email.
However, if it’s normal correspondence without any personal, sensitive or financial information being transmitted over the open internet, then you can of course, use email without an SSL.
But you should know that whatever email you send, whether you’re using Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, etc. even from your own personal website, that email is not encrypted and therefore not protected.
Is an Email SSL certificate different from a website SSL certificate?
Yes, If you’re setting up a website and you think that just getting a SSL certificate for your website will secure your email as well, then you are mistaken.
You would need a separate email SSL certificate for your email in order to secure the email as it travels over the open and unprotected internet.
Your SSL certificate for your email would be encrypted and only your recipient on the opposite end with the encryption key could open it.
These transactions over secured emails with SSL certificates travel and are opened seamlessly, so the sender nor the recipient realizes that it’s even happening.
The need for an SSL for email, more than a peace of mind.
As I’ve mentioned above the need for an SSL certificate for email is necessary, if you are sending and receiving confidential information including contracts, medical information, banking and financial information as well as sensitive corporate documents.
If you do not secure your emails with an SSL certificate which is encrypted, then you’re leaving your company as well as your clients open to attack from hackers which could intercept and extract your emails. Hackers can do all kinds of damage to not only your company but your clients as well.
