How can I know that someone somewhere has intercepted my email and has read it? Is there a way to find out if my emails are being intercepted and what tools can I use to determine this? What evidence should I look out for to determine whether or not my email has indeed been compromised?
Emails can be sent in an encrypted form to the users. This encryption can be provided by using S/MIME in Outlook Web App. It is a digitally encrypted message which can be opened by the authorized recipient. It contain a correct key which has to be entered by the recipient while he opens it. This assures sender and recipients that the message is not tampered.
I’m not sure if email messages can be intercepted and read by someone because normally, an email is sent using a secured connection which encrypts it and protects it. For example, if you usually send your email via web mail like Yahoo!, you are using a secured connection which is indicated by the “https” at the beginning of the URL in the address bar of the web browser. See image.
When you are using a secured connection, your information or the data you send is protected from getting eavesdropped. But if you are certain that your emails are getting intercepted, try encrypting your messages or use a digital signature in your email. When your message is digitally signed, the sender information and the content can’t be altered or changed along the way.
Never trust an unsigned email. If you know someone that normally sends digitally signed emails and you received an unsigned email in one occasion, be suspicious. If you are not sure about the email, you may need to contact the sender to verify if he or she sends you the email.
