From sending photos to friends to transmitting confidential work information, we use email for everything. But how much can we trust the Big Tech email service providers? Platform privacy concerns, data breaches, and the threat of malicious AI all contribute to the instability of email servers. Is your email safe?
A study in email platforms
A recent study by Ethical Consumer found that the biggest email providers in the U.S., including Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo Mail, AOL, and Apple, are not as private as you might think. According to MSN, both Outlook and Gmail have been known to scan and record email data, though they claim not to use that data for targeted advertising. They also collect user information, which can include your location data, search history, platform interactions, and device information.
Data breaches and the rise of AI
In addition to platform privacy concerns, data breaches and the rise of AI phishing scams are two other major concerns when it comes to email security. According to Consumer Affairs, there were over 1 billion data breach victim notices given in 2024 — more than double the notices given in 2023. As hackers continue to utilize malicious AI on the dark web, email users will need to be more vigilant than ever.
How to protect your email privacy
There are multiple ways to protect your email privacy. Here are a few steps you can take to help ensure your accounts are secure:
1. Use strong passwords and update them regularly
Using strong passwords lowers the chance of hackers gaining access to your accounts. Utilizing further security measures like two-factor authentication with SMS or an authentication app also reduces the risk of hacking.
2. Use an end-to-end encryption service
While email may seem instantaneous, it isn’t. When you send an email, it must travel through multiple networks and online services before reaching its recipient. While traveling through these systems, messages become vulnerable to attack by hackers — unless they are encrypted. Encryption, in essence, scrambles messages while they are in transit and then “unscrambles” them once they reach the intended recipient. Hence, if a message is intercepted in transmission, it will be indecipherable to a hacker. Some email platforms provide this service for an added fee.
3. Check to see if your email has been compromised
Websites such as databreach.com allow users to see if their email has been leaked and what information hackers might have gained access to.
4. Be thoughtful about what you send
Remember, no matter what steps you take in email security, there will always be a level of risk. Try to limit the amount of sensitive information you send via email, especially on older, less-secure platforms.
5. Know your email provider
As previously stated, email services like Gmail and Outlook scan and store information from your messages. If this concerns you, consider switching to an alternative service provider with more stringent privacy policies.
Coming soon: ALTERNmail
ALTERNcloud’s soon-to-be publicly released email platform, ALTERNmail, is founded on security. Our encryption and authentication features, as well as our commitment to your personal privacy, ensure a safe platform for you to store and transmit your information. ALTERNmail is built on a Cloud infrastructure which won’t cancel you or slow you down, allowing you or your company to send large volumes of email in minutes.