Is there a way to force Google Gmail to use SSL security?

After two of my friends had information stolen from them through public wireless networks, I'm completely paranoid. Is there some way to connect to Google's Gmail service securely?

Dave's Answer:

A long time ago I figured out that if you logged into Gmail, then if you weren't given a secure URL (that is, one that started with https:// that you could just go ahead and manually add the 's' and it'd stay secure from that point on. Then if you bookmarked the SSL connection, you'd be golden.

I've used that trick for years with my Gmail accounts (and documented it here too: How to get a secure connection to Gmail).

The problem is, it's kind of a hack.

Fortunately, Google just recently added a new setting in Gmail that lets you force it to always be secure rather than just hoping it'll stay SSL once you force it there.

To find the new setting, simply log in to your Gmail account and click on Settings. Scroll down a bit and you'll see:

Click on "always use https", then click "Save Changes" and you're good forever.

Thanks for this one, Google!

Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 8409, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: gmail, google mail, identity theft, mail security, privacy, webmail
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Comments

Very nice. I've never noticed this before. I used to just add the s at the end of http when im logging in at school :)

Posted by: Chris at September 6, 2008 4:20 PM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!