Sending secure e-mails

A Public key is a mathematical algorithm used to encrypt sent messages or information to the owner of the public key. Thus comes the naming of this key as public key because its available to the anybody who wants to send a message encrypted. So even if the sent message was intercepted it can't be read. Once the message is received by the public key owner, the owner can decrypt it with his private key (named private because the owner only should posses this key and never disclose it to anyone). Hence, if you like to send me any e-mail in a secure manner, I recommend encrypting it first with my public key.

There are many freely available encryption software (freeware) on the Internet which support public key cryptography. These free software programs provide the ability to securely encrypt\decrypt and also digitally sign e-mail messages, providing authentication and also integrity; preventing anybody from spying on your e-mails. As known, when sending an e-mail, many copies of the sent message will be generated through its journey from the source to destination (e.g. the source ISP server will retain a copy of the sent message and the recipient's- destined- ISP server will do the same thing). So even though if you don't have anything to hide, you have the right to maintain your privacy by preventing anyone (the intelligence gathering authorities, your ISP...etc) from spying on your e-mails.