Gmail’s ‘Confidential Mode’ arrives on mobile devices

Gmail’s ‘Confidential Mode’ arrives on mobile devices

This year in May, Google rolled out the Confidential Mode for Gmail users on desktop, however, the feature is now available on the iOS and Android mobile application as well. Gmail announced the same via a tweet on 16 August.

What is Gmail’s new Confidential Mode ?

Confidential Mode gives you tight control over the emails you send. You can set emails to expire after a set amount of time, similar to a Snapchat message, or take away someone’s access to a confidential email at any time. The recipient won’t be able to forward, copy, print or download a confidential message, but Google points out they can still take screenshots.

When sending a confidential email you also have the option of requiring a SMS passcode to open the message. If you choose this, the recipient will get a text with a passcode, and have to enter it to open the message.

As added protection, Google also gives users the option of requiring an SMS passcode to open a particular message. When this is enabled, the recipient will get a text message containing the passcode, and they have to enter it to unlock the email.

See how confidential emails work

Gmail’s ‘Confidential Mode’ arrives on mobile devices
Gmail’s ‘Confidential Mode’ arrives on mobile devices

Source:-https://support.google.com

Those sound pretty excellent security features, sure, but someone who needs that amount of protection probably won’t use Gmail in the first place. There are a number of email clients and messaging platforms focused on security, such as Signal, and they’re arguably more sophisticated solutions than Google’s own approach. That being said, billions of people use Gmail every day, and most of them aren’t tech-savvy enough to seek out third-party apps. As such, they’ll be thoroughly pleased with what Confidential Mode has to offer.

How to Send messages & attachments confidentially in Desktop ?

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. Click Compose.
  3. In the bottom right of the window, click Turn on confidential mode Turn on confidential mode.
    Tip: If you’ve already turned on confidential mode for an email, go to the bottom of the email, then click Edit.
  4. Set an expiration date and passcode. These settings impact both the message text and any attachments.
    • If you choose “No SMS passcode,” recipients using the Gmail app will be able to open it directly. Recipients who don’t use Gmail will get emailed a passcode.
    • If you choose “SMS passcode,” recipients will get a passcode by text message. Make sure you enter the recipient’s phone number, not your own.
  5. Click Save.

Remove access early

You can stop your recipient from viewing the email before the expiration date.

  1. On your computer, open Gmail.
  2. On the left, click Sent.
  3. Open the confidential email.
  4. Click Remove access.

Open an email sent with confidential mode

If the sender used confidential mode to send the email:

  • You can view the message and attachments until the expiration date or until the sender removes access.
  • Options to copy, paste, download, print, and forward the message text and attachments will be disabled.
  • You might need to enter a passcode to open the email.

How to Send messages & attachments confidentially in Android ?

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app Gmail.
  2. Tap Compose Edit.
  3. In the top right, tap More More and then Confidential mode.
    Note: If you’ve already turned on confidential mode for the email, go to the bottom of the email, then tap Edit.
  4. Turn on Confidential mode.
  5. Set an expiration date, passcode and other controls. These settings impact both the message text and any attachments.
    • If you choose “No SMS passcode,” recipients using the Gmail app will be able to open it directly. Recipients who don’t use Gmail will get emailed a passcode.
    • If you choose “SMS passcode,” recipients will get a passcode by text message. Make sure you enter the recipient’s phone number, not your own.
  6. Tap Done Done.

Remove access early

You can stop your recipient from opening the email before the expiration date.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app Gmail.
  2. Tap Menu Menu and then Sent.
  3. Open the confidential email.
  4. On the bottom of the screen, tap Remove access.

 

Share

Leave a Reply