The best email encryption software can prevent hackers from scraping your emails for company contracts, financial records, and workplace credentials.

In 1996, I registered my first website, Vaughan-Nichols & Associates. After setting up the site, one of the first things I did was to secure connections with a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst. Update, Nov. 24, 2024: This story, originally published Nov.

Learn why encryption keys matter more than encryption itself when choosing the best secure email—covering key ownership, access control, privacy risks, and true end-to-end security.