Enigmail What is it, what is it for and how do I install it in Mozilla Thunderbird?

Internet communications have become one of the most important factors for most companies and independent people , and it is through them that a large amount of private and personal information and data who cannot be shared may be shared. the scope to unauthorized third parties.

Considering that all the risks are the same, mainly those generated by le angle of e - mails were created software capable of helping to improve the privacy and security of each of these conversations through encryption such as the PGP or also known as Fairly good privacy.

This is how than Enigmail has become a necessary tool for running PGP , in other words, Enigmail is in charge of make sure that everything encryption and data protection process is working properly . Here is how below we will teach you a little more about this tool, at what it is for and how you can install it in Mozilla Thunderbird .

What is Enigmail and what is this tool for?

It should be mentioned than Enigmail is an extension available for Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird browsers for working versions under Linux, Mac and Windows operating systems . It is important to clarify that this is not a cryptographic engine in itself, but that it is responsible for the use of GNU Privacy Guard or also known as GPG or GnuPG to make cryptographic encryption processes.

In this way, this extension is used in order to facilitate the work of digital encryption or signature to from the command line , then copy them manually to the e-mail. In the same way, Enigmail is in charge of making the whole process of encryption and generation of public and private keys work correctly. , your participation in this process is therefore very important.

What are the benefits of protecting my emails with Enigmail?

Considering all the risks related to communication by e-mail today, in particular when private and personal data are shared it is more than necessary to have a tool that helps you protect each of your Internet conversations. This is how tools like Enigmail will help you secure each of your messages sent and received by email .

That's why below we show you the main advantages that this extension offers you:

• As it is a extension, you don't have to download it to your computer , its process of installation will therefore be much easier.
• It offers you the possibility of create encryption for each of messages you send and receive, this will allow that they cannot be modified during their trip by third parties.
• It offers a very advanced security system, this is how it allows disable html service because through it many attacks can be suffered, that is why the emails with HTML are generally much more vulnerable.
• It allows configuration with mail servers such as Yahoo, Gmail and Outlook.
• It helps you generate the public and private keys .
• It offers you maximum privacy and security when data sharing on the Internet.
• Currently, communications via the network became the target of attackers is Why Enigmail will help you block them by guaranteeing integrity of each of your messages via the web.

How does Enigmail work? Encrypt messages with GPG securely

You must remember Enigmail is a extension that works with Mozilla Thunderbird , which allows you to realize what the message encryption with GPG and digital signatures to provide a security much larger at each of your communications. via Internet . He's completely free and maybe used, modified and distributed freely.

Therefore, the main function of this plugin is to help you send encrypted emails, preventing third party to read or modify them at their convenience . Keep in mind that when message or file is encrypted, it can only be read by users who have access to it through a previously created public or private key.

In this way, it is considered a very important tool for the software application procedure. Pretty Good Privacy , because by working with Thunderbird it will allow perform correctly all la procedure confidentiality of communication, ensuring correct operation. En outre, le encryption via Enigmail is much easier to achieve.

Learn step by step how to install Enigmail in Firefox Thunderbird

Enigmail is considered a fundamental complement to realize what is the generation of public and private keys for the encryption of e-mail messages. This way we will show you here which are the steps to follow for install this extension in Mozilla Thunderbird.

To do this, follow each of the steps that we will explain below:

Prepare to install Enigmail

When Mozilla Thunderbird is launched for the first time, a confirmation window will appear asking you for some default settings, in this case it is better to click on the option "Define by default".

You may also be asked if you wish to open a new e - mail address or if you want to use an existing one , because it is necessary that you click on "Ignore and use my existing email ». Later you will have to configure browser to be able to both send and receive emails . In case you are used to only using the servers Outlook, Gmail and Yahoo, then with Thunderbird you will live a new experience, but it won't be that different from the previous ones.

Keep in mind that these aspects are essential to set it up for what the Enigmail installation , in case you already have entered Mozilla Thunderbird previously, then this data will already be configured.

Install Enigmail

As it is a plug-in, its installation will be done differently from any other program , even differently from the way Mozilla Thunderbird is installed.

Therefore, for this you need to follow each of the steps that we are going to teach you below:

• The first thing in this case will be to access the Mozilla Thunderbird menu , to do this, click on the three horizontal lines that appear at the top right of your screen. In the drop-down menu that appears there, you must select "Add-ons".

• Later you will be redirected to the tab "Add- Wed Manager" .
• You will find the add-ons search box which is located at the top right of your screen. Just click on it and type "Enigmail".

• After some seconds, the extension will appear first in the list, there you have to click on the option "Install".

• Now a loading bar will appear where it will indicate the percentage of installation, this usually lasts a few minutes. Once the installed add-on, the Mozilla browser will ask you to restart it for confirm installation . To do this, you must select the "Restart now" button.

• When the browser restarts , a new additional window opens on the screen, in which you must start the "Enigmail" configuration process. Then you need to select the option "Start configuration now" then select "Following".

At this point, it is necessary to remember that the main function of this extension is to protect against any type of attack or danger , and today most attacks usually come from the HTML service , therefore its activation may represent a danger for users. This is how that EFAIL showed that the HTML is a danger for e - mails , that is why it is recommended for users de deactivate this function via Enigmail.

To do this, you need to follow these steps:

• Again you must enter the thunderbird menu , to do this click on the three horizontal lines located at the top right of your screen.
• In the menu that appears there, you must select the option "Display" in the list of options on the right.

• You must now select the option "Message body as" , then select "Plain text".

You must keep in mind that the display of the e-mail with the HTML service disabled possibly generate usability issues , because everything will appear in plain text and it is also possible that some attachments do not appear there. It is also important to specify that the deactivation of this service is not mandatory, so it will be up to each user to do so or not .

However, it is important to mention that the activation of this service will generate a greater risk, because the Emails with HTML are more vulnerable to any kind of attack . Therefore, for users who process important and private information through these communications, it is best not to take these types of risks. This way you will be able to prepare and install the Enigmail extension in Mozilla Thunderbird to carry out what will be the generation of public and private keys for data encryption via PGP .

Enigmail vs OpenPGP What is the best tool for having a secure email?

It must be taken into account that this encryption process can be done via two tools associated with Mozilla Thunderbird , the most recent added feature being that of encryption of emails and digital signatures via the OpenPGP standard , which was added in order to replace what the Enigmail extension is , which will continue to be compatible with Thunderbird but only until the end of 2020.

In this way the plug- in Enigmail, although facilitating this whole procedure of encryption , coming to an end , it was characterized by allowing this browser with GnuPG external software de create data encryption for communications. by email. Therefore, users who do not have never used Enigmail will be able to start another one beforehand using OpenPGP.

Since the encryption will not be activated automatically, and in the case of the new Thunderbird feature, it will have all the necessary details to facilitate procedures for users. It must be remembered that all this is done in order to be able to promote secure Internet communications, where the user will be motivated to use the encryption in order to prevent his data

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, we will get back to you as soon as possible, and it will be a great help for more community members as well. Thank you!