Gmail warns against unencrypted emails

A red open lock warns Gmail users against unencrypted emails.


Users of Gmail accounts will receive an open red lock as a warning when they receive an email that has not been encrypted. The warning message also appears when writing an email to a recipient whose provider does not support TLS encryption. Clicking on the warning symbol reveals more detailed details about a possible security risk.


Since 2017, Google encrypts the entire email traffic between Gmail users. With the new security tool that Google presented on 9 February in the course of the Safer Internet Day, Google wants to spur other e-mail providers to more security.


Another new feature is a red question mark that appears instead of a profile image when Google can not authenticate the sender's mail account. This is merely a reference to being particularly mindful. An unauthenticated user is not automatically dangerous. Google wants to use the new security features only to point to messages that may be unsafe and warn users to be more cautious.