Certain communications demand a heightened level of security, often referred to as encryption. This is particularly relevant for emails, as it ensures that only intended recipients with the correct decryption key can access the content. Unfortunately, most Android email clients fall short in providing this essential feature, necessitating the use of a third-party application. Among the options available, Thunderbird stands out as an exceptional choice for Android users, thanks to its compatibility with PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) and its open-source nature.
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For those seeking robust encryption on their Android devices, OpenKeychain emerges as a user-friendly solution. This application simplifies the process of adding encryption to your communications. Below, we outline the steps to get started.
Installing OpenKeychain
What you’ll need: All that is required is an Android device (either a phone or tablet) and a valid Google account. With these in hand, you’re ready to embark on your encryption journey.
Creating Your First Key
The next step involves creating your first encryption key. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Newly Installed App
Swipe up on your home screen to access the App Drawer. Scroll down until you find OpenKeychain and tap to launch it.
2. Create Your Key
In the main window, tap on “Create My Key.” You will be guided through a straightforward wizard that requires you to:
- Enter your name (or a nickname)
- Add an email address for the key
- Optionally, enable the key to be accessible via keyservers
Once these steps are completed, tap “Create Key” at the bottom right.
One of the appealing features of OpenKeychain is its ease of sharing public keys. After creating your key, simply tap on the entry to access options for sharing and copying. For others to send you encrypted emails, they will need to provide their public key, and vice versa.
Additionally, OpenKeychain allows for the easy import of keys from files. Simply tap the + button on the main page and select “Import from File.”
Adding Encryption to Thunderbird for Android
While Thunderbird is not the sole Android email app that supports encryption, it is the one I prefer. You can easily install Thunderbird for Android from the Google Play Store.
1. Open Thunderbird Settings
After installation and account setup, tap the menu button in the upper-left corner, followed by the gear icon at the bottom of the sidebar. From the list of email accounts, select the one you wish to configure for encryption.
2. Navigate to “End-to-End Encryption”
Scroll to the bottom of the “Account settings” page and tap “End-to-end encryption.”
3. Enable OpenPGP Support
On the “End-to-end encryption” page, ensure that “Enable OpenPGP support” is activated by toggling the On/Off slider to the On position.
4. Select Your Key
Under the Enable entry, tap the “Using key” line and select the key you created in OpenKeychain when prompted.
Once you have added PGP support, return to the main Thunderbird window. If you have imported a PGP key from a recipient, you can now compose an encrypted email. Tap the Compose button, then the menu button in the top right corner (three vertical dots), and select “Enable Encryption.” Enter the recipient’s email address associated with the PGP key, and watch as the lock icon turns green, indicating that your email is encrypted. You can now draft your message and send it off.
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It is important to note that the recipient’s email client must also support encryption; otherwise, they may need to save the encrypted attachment and decrypt it manually. With these steps, you have successfully integrated encryption into your Android experience, enhancing your communication security.
