Sending encrypted email

[Stevio]

Is it possible to send an encrypted email to a person who you have had no correspondence or contact with beforehand, so that only that person will be able to decrypt and read the message?

Basically, if a business has a new client and they want to send the client an encrypted email, is it possible? Or does the client need to set something up first of all?

I am looking at this from two possible points of view:
1. Sending from an email client - e.g Outlook or Outlook Express.
2. Sending the email from a web site.

I have a client who has the following requirement:
"Security of e-mails and other documents.... the truth is that all of my e-mails sent and received need to be secure as they will often carry personal data."

What would you tell them? Thanks.

[Artashes]

Well, it is quite normal for them to ask for something like this because the question of online security and privacy has been the number one issue for e-commerce businesses everywhere.

You were correct about something. The user needs to have the same encryption certificate working on his PC to be able to unecrypt your message. Otherwise, you'll be just sending him encrypted e-mails...

For Outlook there is an option to get a "Digital ID" to be able to digitally encrypt your messages, but it is an expensive certificate.

You can actually get it for free at FreeWebWare.com web site. You have to sign up for free tools and use their "Secure Form" processing system which is a secure form that will allow you to receive emails with critical data. Your visitors can fill a form and send it to you through their server with the strongest 128-bit encryption using SSL (Secure Socket Layer). It is the most widely used and reliable method for secure transactions on the web.

All messages will be encrypted & unencryopted by the system automatically.

The simplest thing to do (if you want to ignore any headache) is tell your customers who feel unsecure that if they run Windows XP OS, it already contains a firewall which protects them from open access to their stuff.

If they feel better, installing a free firewall (ex: ZoneAlarm) will guarantee more security.

But many companies do not encrypt their digital communications because it is: 1. not worth it. 2. already pretty secure.

Good luck deciding on what option you'd like to go with,