How to Encrypt Google Email

Encrypting Gmail with a Chrome Extension

Launch Google Chrome. Look for Google Chrome on your computer and open it. The web browser will load.

Visit the Chrome Web Store. Go to the Chrome Web Store on your browser. You can get apps, extensions, and themes for Google Chrome here.

Search for Chrome extensions. Use the search field on the top left corner of the page to search for extensions. There are several extensions available that can encrypt Gmail. You can try Secure Mail for Gmail (by Streak) or My-mail Crypt for Gmail. Type it in the search field.

Install the extension. Once you find the mail encryption extension you want to use, click on its “Free” button. The selected extension will be installed on your Chrome.

Open Gmail. Open a new tab on your browser and go to the Gmail website.

Sign in. Under the Sign in box, type in your Gmail email address and password. This is your one Google ID for all of Google’s services. Click the “Sign in” button to proceed. If you’re already signed in to your Google account, this step won’t be necessary.

Compose an email. When you have the encryption extension installed, you will see a lock icon beside the “Compose” button in Gmail. Click this button if you want to compose an email in secure mode. In secure mode, the message text will be encrypted before you send the email. A password needs to be entered to decrypt it.

Set a password for the email. When you’re done with your email, click the “Send Encrypted” button at the bottom of the composition window. A window will appear where you can enter the encryption password. This is the same password your recipients need to enter in order for them to decrypt and read your email.

Send the email. Click the “Encrypt & Send” button on the window to send your encrypted email. Let your recipients know the password securely, either face-to-face, a phone call, or some other private method, so they can read the email once they receive the it.

Encrypting Mail with the Gmail Mobile App Using Virtru

Launch the app store. Open your device’s respective app store by tapping its icon (App Store on iOS or the Play Store on Android).

Search for Virtru Encryption for Gmail. Enter this app’s name into the search bar of the app store.

Install the app. Locate the correct app from the results, which should be developed by a corporation of the same name. Tap the “Install” or “Download” button on the app’s info page to download and install it onto your device. It’s free.

Launch the app. Locate the app on your device. It’s the app icon of a blue circle with a letter “v” in it. Tap to launch the app.

Activate the app with Gmail. On the welcome screen, tap the “Activate Virtru” button. Tap on Gmail when prompted.

Sign in. You will need to sign into your Gmail account in order to use it securely with Virtru. Under the “Sign in” box, type in your Gmail email address and password. This is your one Google ID for all of Google’s services. Tap on the “Sign in” button to proceed. Virtru will be activated for your Gmail account on your device.

Compose an email. Virtru is basically an email client app, much like your default email apps on your device. You can use it to send and receive emails for your Gmail account. Tap the writing pad button on the top right corner to bring out the composition window, and compose your email here.

Turn on the security. What makes Virtru different from your other email apps is that you can toggle its security feature for every email you do. There’s a toggle button on the middle part of the header of the window to turn security on and off. Tap on it to enable security for your email so that it will be protected.

Send email. When you’re done with your email, tap the “Send” button at the top right corner of the composition window. Your email will be sent securely through Virtru. There’s no need to enter a password as Virtru will handle the security of your email and make sure only the intended recipients get access to it by providing them with instructions on using the Secure Reader.