News
Google Trying for More Gmail Security
Privacy advocates have called for a more secure version of the webmail service
By Robert McMillan
If the test works out, then Google will "turn on HTTPS by default more broadly, hopefully for all Gmail users," Whitten said.
Google wouldn't say when it will begin testing, but the company is ahead of rivals Yahoo and Microsoft, which do not offer their users an HTTPS connection, said Jeremiah Grossman, chief technology officer with White Hat Security.
Because encrypted messages contain more information, HTTPS can slow down Web surfing, and if Google finds that performance is so bad that some users drop the service, that would be a major problem, he said.
On the other hand, HTTPS performance can be sped up by using special chips on the server, called accelerators. But that costs money.
"Free, always-on HTTPS is pretty unusual in the email business, particularly for a free email service," Whitten wrote. "But we see it as another way to make the Web safer and more useful. It's something we'd like to see all major webmail services provide."
Other stories by Robert McMillan
Copyright 2009 IDG News Service, International Data Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Security Directions: A Virtual Conference
Available On Demand Sept. 30 - Dec. 30
Join us for a virtual event with candid, expert information on top security challenges and issues - all from the comfort of your desktop.
Protecting PII: How to Work with IT to Manage Risk
Understand the critical nature of the test data privacy problem and get tips on how to work with IT to implement a test data privacy program.
Get instant notifications when whitepapers, webcasts and case studies are added
to our library. Sign up for a Resource Alert now!
CSO Corporate Partners
CSO Perspectives
-
April 5-7, 2010Hyatt Regency Santa ClaraClick here for more information!
Santa Clara, California
(ISC)2 members can earn up to 24 CPE Credits!
