We are exposed all the time to attacks from cybercriminals who take advantage of the vulnerabilities of the different means we use to communicate on the Internet. Many companies that offer messaging services, social networks, emails, and more are constantly thinking about ways to combat this problem. Such is the case of Google, which not long ago implemented Gmail new features such as confidential mode to send and open emails.
Gmail confidential mode for greater protection
In the sea of ​​people connected to the Internet, there are also malicious ones who look for the opportunity to attack their victims in cyberspace. These criminals usually use different methods to harm their victims, one of them is phishing. This is a cyber scam created to steal personal and financial information from us. The technique they normally use scammers who resort to phishing is to send fraudulent communications They have the appearance of being trustworthy, when in reality they are not. For example, a bank, an online store or even a social network.
To carry out phishing, cybercriminals They use different means of contact such as emails, text messages or phone calls. They also use other strategies such as websites designed to imitate the real site of a bank, a store, etc.; They create fake pop-up ads, offers or discounts that are too good to be true, they even resort to impersonating friends or family to ask for urgent help through messages.
The most common method of phishing is sending emails to our mailbox. For this reason, Google has included a new feature called 'Confidential Mode' in Gmail to protect its users from these cyberattacks. Gmail is one of the most used means globally for sending data and information, so I could not ignore this problem. Consequently, it created this function that allows sending and receiving emails confidentially.
Advantages and disadvantages of this mode
Sending and receiving emails in confidential mode is a method that provides greater security and privacy. Has advantages such as the possibility of placing a password and an expiration date on the message which, once received, automatically self-destructs, eliminating all the information contained in it. Therefore, the recipient will no longer be able, under any circumstances, to access that information again once the email has been deleted.
As for the password, it must be provided so that the recipient can open the message. Reception of this is carried out through an SMS.
But, you have to take into account some disadvantages of Gmail confidential mode. When using it, The options to copy, forward, download the message or print it are disabled, attachments are not supported either.
These are not the only disadvantages. This system is still vulnerable since does not have end-to-end encryption, so the information could be intercepted by cybercriminals. Google is aware of the shortcomings of Gmail's confidentiality mode and warns that it may be vulnerable.
Another disadvantage is that there is a possibility that the information contained in the message sent using confidentiality mode may be preserved through other techniques such as a screenshot or photograph. Against this, no plans for data protection yet.
Send an email using Gmail confidential mode
To send a message using the confidential method, open your Gmail and go to the 'Compose' option located in the left sidebar, at the top.
The window to compose the message will open. There you will find a padlock icon. Look for it among the different options that appear at the bottom of the window. Click this button to enable confidential mode.
A smaller floating window will open and you will then find the options to set message expiration and enter a password, if you wish.
The following options will appear among the message expiration settings: 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months or 5 years. Choose the one that suits you best.
If you want your message to be password protected, check the box. 'Password by SMS'. The recipient will receive a code to access the message.
In case you are the one who receives a message in confidential mode and it is protected with a password, this is how you have to proceed to open it. Go to the Gmail side menu and look for the Inbox. Click on the message to open it.
If the message is password protected, you will have to enter your phone number to receive the access code. Once you have entered it, you will be able to read the message during the expiration period stipulated by the sender of the message. When this period has expired, the message will self-destruct.