Today Google announced the alpha release of a Chrome plugin that works with their Gmail service to enable end-to-end encryption for email sent through their system. This will reduce Google's ability to data-mine the content of messages, but it won't stop anyone from tracking senders and recipients. Their plugin is based on OpenPGP and they are publishing the source code.
With a focus on ease-of-use lets hope that this plugin is enough to start a broader movement towards end-to-end encryption for all email, regardless of provider.
Editor's Note: This is an early release of the code and should not be relied upon just yet. Google invites the community to test and evaluate the extension; it is even eligible for their Vulnerability Reward Program.
(Score: 2) by KingofBLASH on Thursday June 05 2014, @04:11AM
It makes sense. If Google sees the writing on the wall, and KNOWS full email encryption is coming down the line, they're better off implementing it and controlling it.
And they can still monetize users via ads -- they just have to sniff out their marketing some other way.