Email servers and clients typically communicate data over the Internet as clearly readable text and attachments. The communication is between:
In addition, email and attachments usually travel through one or more routers on the public Internet. At any place along the communications route, clear messages and attachments can be monitored, modified or blocked. Such intrusions can cause problems for confidential and essential email transmissions.
SSL addresses email privacy by providing secure and accurate data communications among email servers and email clients. SSL secures email communications by using private and public key technology for both authenticating the connection and encrypting the data.
Using SSL, both servers and clients can authenticate the identity of each other. After establishing an authenticated connection, the messages and attachments are encoded, sent, received and decoded using the public and private encryption keys.