If you are like most people, you understand that deleting an email doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s gone forever. It’s astonishing how data recovery experts can revive information that has long since been “erased”. Sometimes this resurrected information winds up coming back to haunt its author. Social apps like Snapchat have attempted to answer this concern for instant messaging, but a solution hasn’t been readily available for email until now. The DMail Chrome extension, allows users to encrypt their communications, delete/recall emails and even set them to self-destruct after a certain period of time has elapsed.
Mission Possible
If you are old enough to remember the old Mission Impossible televison series, you recall the opening sequence where the agent receives his orders via a tape recorder. At the end of the recording the speaker says, “This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.” Then, poof, in a cloud of smoke and sparks, the tape was gone. This is literally the idea with DMail Chrome Extension. Poof. Sans smoke and sparks, your email is gone, assuring your total security. However, only the body of the email is encrypted. The to and from addresses and any attachments are currently not encrypted. Neither are attachments revokable with DMail. According to press reports, there are plans to develop this functionality in future iterations of DMail, but no firm timeline has been established yet.
One-Click Destruction
After installing the DMail Chrome Extension, all you need to do is click the button marked “Send with DMail” and your message will be sent to the intended recipient, but they will be the only one able to open your message. The system doesn’t even require the recipient to have DMail installed. They will receive the message in whatever email client they happen to be using as usual. The sender can, at any time, choose to revoke the recipients ability to open the message, whether or not they have already read it. The user can also set an expiration time, giving the recipient a defined window to view the message, after which it is destroyed.
One obvious weakness is that anyone who has access to the key code can read the message, even if it wasn’t meant for them to see. Also, unlike Snapchat, it’s currently possible to take a screenshot of the message while it’s open, which does not get destroyed when the email is recalled or has expired. Barring these two scenarios, DMail seems to offer significant improvements in email security and privacy.
Unlimited Trial Period
DMail is currently offering an unlimited beta trial while the formulate their pricing model. During this period, you can use it for an unlimited number of emails to an unlimited number of recipients. You’ll have full access to the features of the extension, giving you a great opportunity to evaluate whether it’s a good fit for you.
Everyone knows how frustrating it can be when your personal communications are either deliberately or inadvertently aired in public. With the advent of social media, news and gossip makes its way around the world at the speed of light, and one slip up could wind up haunting you for a long time. With extensions like DMail, users are finally going to have an opportunity to keep their private communications, well, private.
