Gmail: improved security by default
Your email should be exactly that – your email. If you don’t have https in the browser’s address bar for your web based email it is possible that it could be intercepted. For some time (always?) there has been the option to enable https in your gmail account. Unfortunately browser security is a bit of a propeller head subject and many people are blissfully unaware of the risks to, and the measures they can take to safeguard, their online activities. Google have now taken the welcome step of turning it on by default.
Gmail now even more secure: HTTPS by default
HTTPS encryption keeps your mail secure as it travels between your web browser and Gmail servers, so someone sharing your favorite coffee shop’s public wifi can’t maliciously read it. Banks and credit card companies use this same protocol to keep your online accounts safe. To protect your Gmail account, we’ve turned on the option to “always use HTTPS” for everyone. This added layer of security can make Gmail slower, so if you don’t use unencrypted wireless connections, you can choose to disable this option in your account Settings. Even if you change this setting, Gmail will always encrypt the login page to protect your password. Learn more