 use Yahoo Mail, making the company a major industry player—despite the questionable security protocols associated with this email service. Like other industry giants, Yahoo sparks concerns regarding email privacy and data mining business practices.

you should learn how to encrypt emails in Yahoo and keep your online correspondence safe from prying eyes. 

What email encryption protocols are the most secure

Which encrypted Yahoo Mail alternative is the best

How to send an encrypted email in Yahoo Mail

Yahoo Mail doesn’t have a great track record regarding 

 and security. You cannot encrypt an email in Yahoo, at least not natively, through the platform.

Yahoo uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption

between you and the recipient's email server. Every email you send via Yahoo Mail has TLS enabled by default, so there are no additional steps—the encryption is applied automatically.

it won’t prevent unauthorized access when your messages are at rest on a server

. That kind of protection requires a stronger email encryption method.

What type of email encryption is the best?

Most email service providers use one of the following encryption protocols:

Compared to TLS, the S/MIME protocol ensures a higher level of security by encrypting the contents of the emails, which can only be accessed with a unique decryption key. If 

 gained access to an email server, they’d still need the key to read your messages.

Gmail, Outlook, and other mainstream email platforms provide S/MIME with higher-tier subscriptions. 

Unfortunately, this protocol requires installing a separate S/MIME certificate

—a complex and time-consuming process for the average email user.

S/MIME isn’t the most secure encryption protocol because 

the decryption keys are stored on the provider’s servers.

 If someone compromised these servers, they could decrypt your emails as well.

The most effective method of protecting your online correspondence is end-to-end encryption (E2EE). 

 by protecting your messages before they leave your device and reserving access to decryption keys to recipients only. The best way to guarantee the safety of your email correspondence is to switch to a provider offering E2EE as part of its core service.

Why you should consider leaving Yahoo Mail

Yahoo Mail has several problems affecting its service quality

Yahoo Mail does not provide ways to password-protect your most sensitive emails or attachments. You can install a third-party browser extension to access these features with your Yahoo Mail, but they’re not as reliable as email services with built-in security options.

Using an extension for password protection or encryption means 

entrusting a third party with your email data. 

Your password and encryption key would be stored on their servers, creating another weak point for hackers to use.

The reliability of browser extensions varies.

 While Google and other browser developers oversee extension authors, they don’t go through rigorous background checks.

In practice, many seemingly trustworthy browser extensions have turned out to be 

—especially those with popular functions, like ad blockers. Malware-ridden extensions create vulnerabilities that hackers exploit via 

 or collect your login credentials through 

Server attacks aren’t a hypothetical scenario—they’ve happened to 

. The same goes for Yahoo, which has experienced multiple data breaches in the past. In 2014, hackers stole data from 

Users of prominent email service providers have continuously raised concerns about data privacy on these platforms.

Yahoo Mail is no exception, as it collects huge amounts of user data

The provider targets users with free accounts with ads based on data collected from their email correspondence. You can remove the ads by paying for a Yahoo Mail Plus subscription, but that doesn’t stop the provider from

Email service providers that don't use E2EE encryption can freely mine your emails for data, including your IP address, timestamps, recipients, and device identifiers.

 roll their email clients into a wider package of productivity tools. The result is an 

 that allows users to seamlessly move from app to app and automatically share relevant data.

Outlook is a part of Office 365, which includes Microsoft Word, Excel, One Drive, PowerPoint, and Teams. Gmail integrates with Google’s other productivity apps, bundled in Google Workspace. The package incorporates Google Calendar, Keep, Meet, and Sheets.

Yahoo’s features can’t compete with these providers 

as the service doesn’t come with a similar suite. The scheduling and contact management options within Yahoo Mail are simple in comparison with the advanced features and integrations supported by the competitors.

If you’re looking for an email service with all the productivity features of mainstream providers without their security vulnerabilities, 

opt for an E2E encrypted email service like 

 that provides cutting-edge security to your online correspondence. The platform is a superior choice to Yahoo Mail and other mainstream email providers because it offers:

Skiff Mail uses powerful device-based email encryption

encryption keys, one for encrypting and the other for decrypting the message. The latter is generated by the recipient and stored exclusively on their device, protecting from any unauthorized access.

Even if Skiff’s servers were hacked, the attackers would never gain access to your emails since the decryption keys are not stored there.

Yahoo Mail requires you to install third-party browser extensions for basic encryption features, while other mainstream platforms offer only S/MIME protection. 

, enabled by default, and requires no input from you.

Even the login credentials for your Skiff account are encrypted and stored on your device, preventing unauthorized access. If you want to ensure maximum security, 

you can enable two-factor authentication.

Skiff doesn’t have access to the contents of your emails—only you and the intended recipient can read them.

The provider doesn’t use your private messages to deploy targeted ads or sell your data to third-party advertisers. The emphasis is on your security, which Skiff never compromises for additional profit.

Skiff offers practical user privacy measures like email aliases. You can create up to four email aliases with 

, allowing you to register at any website without revealing your actual email address. 

A paid Skiff subscription provides up to 15 aliases.

This feature makes it easier to organize your inbox, as you can use it as a filter. For example, you could use one alias on shopping websites and only get promotions sent to its specific folder.

 to make your email address appear more professional. The feature is available from Skiff’s mail settings, which take you to a browsing screen to see which custom domains are available.

integration with popular crypto wallets such as:

This feature is an important security measure and allows for complete anonymity in online transactions.

Skiff provides a full E2EE productivity suite

Skiff provides a full-fledged productivity suite on par with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 and ahead of Yahoo’s email-only service.

Besides Skiff Mail, the free account gives you access to:

—An encrypted scheduling tool that lets you share events safely

—A secure and easy-to-use document editor

All four Skiff products have modern, streamlined UIs and are available on 

While you can access all Skiff apps with a free account, 

 provide even more aliases, storage space, and custom domains.

Yahoo Mail can’t compete with Skiff’s built-in security measures, user-centric privacy policies, or integrated productivity tools.

Skiff Pages let you password-protect any document. 

After this, it only takes a few clicks to switch to Skiff Mail and attach the 

How to encrypt emails in Yahoo—a comprehensive guide

Whether you are switching to a new device or want to protect your data in case of any damage, a cloud backup is an excellent solution. It keeps your data intact and up-to-date, preventing file loss and all associated issues.

, Google Drive might seem the most logical option as the system’s native platform. In this guide, 

you will learn how to use Google’s cloud solution to keep your files and data safe

and suggest a few alternatives worth exploring.

How to back up your phone to the cloud with Google Drive

Google makes it easy for Android users to back up all essential data, including:

The process is straightforward and involves a few simple steps:

Tap the hamburger menu in the top-right corner

 to enable backups (you’ll see the Google One page with backup details)

Once the backup is finished, you will see it in the 

you can restore any of the versions on the list.

Why Google cloud phone backup is not the best option for your data

While using Google Drive to back up your data is quick and easy, it comes with a major drawback—poor security. Google is known for 

, and its security features aren’t exactly top-of-the-line.

encryption is an essential security layer

. It scrambles your data to make it incomprehensible to everyone besides the person with the decryption key. 

Whoever owns the key can access plaintext data

, so ownership is a crucial consideration.

 With E2EE, files are encrypted on your device and stored on the cloud as such. Since the user’s device creates and stores the decryption key, the provider cannot see the unencrypted data.

Google Drive doesn’t implement this technology fully, leaving significant vulnerabilities. 

You get client-side encryption of the backup itself, but not for the entire drive.

Google protects data at rest—like archives and backups—with AES-256 encryption. This is a decent protocol, but 

encryption happens on Drive using Google’s keys

. If anyone steals the keys by breaching the server, they’ll have access to all your data. An attacker might be unable to access or modify your backup, but they can corrupt your drive and see all other files.

 that gives you more security and control over your files and backups. Luckily, several providers can give you the necessary peace of mind.

Best Android cloud backup—three platforms reviewed

 to Google Drive or other Big Tech solutions that invade users’ privacy, the following options are worth considering:

Each platform implements strong security measures to safeguard your data, but 

they are not equally suitable for all user categories

, as you’ll learn in the detailed breakdowns below.

Icedrive is highly secure and easy to use, which makes it a great option for users new to end-to-end encrypted cloud drives. It offers several useful features, but it might not be the right choice if you are looking for a free backup solution.

Icedrive offers a free plan and three subscription-based tiers:

—$1.67/month billed annually (no monthly option)

—$4.99/month ($4.17/month billed annually)

—$17.99/month ($15/month billed annually)

you can use if you are certain Icedrive is the right provider for you:

, Icedrive uses advanced encryption protocols to safeguard users’ files. It implements the Twofish algorithm, which many cryptographers consider more secure than the popular AES protocol. The latter is still more widely used because of its performance, though the lower speed of Twofish shouldn’t bother most users as it’s not particularly noticeable.

Icedrive’s Android app is well-optimized and straightforward. 

, with the familiar left-side sliding menu housing the app’s features. There is no learning curve that would impair the overall user experience, so you can start 

The platform supports file sharing but lacks other collaboration features. This might not bother you if you are only looking to back up your data, but it does mean 

you’d need another cloud solution to work or collaborate

. Choosing a more comprehensive solution might be a better idea than having to manage multiple accounts.

, which is quite generous compared to many providers. The problem is that 

you don’t get client-side encryption with it

—you must subscribe to one of the paid tiers to get zero-knowledge E2EE.

the lack of a monthly option for the Lite tier

. You must either commit annually or go with some of the more expensive plans. Many users are not willing to spend so much on end-to-end encryption, especially since some providers offer it for free.

pCloud is a Swiss cloud provider compliant with the country’s strict data regulations, which ensures a high level of security and privacy. It’s an affordable solution, but it suffers from the same issues as Icedrive—keeping the most useful features behind a paywall.

pCloud has different pricing tiers for its three main user categories:

—$10.69/user per month/$8.55 per month billed annually

—$21.38/user per month/$17.10 per month billed annually

pCloud is a comprehensive drive solution with multi-platform support, and its Android client is gaining popularity thanks to strong security and ease of use. The interface resembles Android’s built-in file browser, so backing up your files is as simple as moving them between folders. You get pre-installed folders for music, photos, and videos, and you can create others as needed.

 and lets users store their files on servers in Luxembourg or the U.S. 

The former might be a better option for sensitive files

, as there’s a lower chance of the provider handing out user data to the authorities.

pCloud supports zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, but 

. At $53.52 annually ($160.58 lifetime), it’s quite pricey when you factor in the base subscription costs. You would have to pay over $100 per year for the whole package even with the cheapest tier, as 

individual plans don’t have a monthly option.

 with an option to unlock up to 10 GB. The effort might not be worth it as you still wouldn’t have end-to-end encryption without a separate payment.

 is an end-to-end encrypted cloud service offering all the security measures you need to keep your backups safe. While it is not much cheaper than an average privacy-first provider, 

 doesn’t reserve important security features for paid users.

Skiff Drive comes with a generous free plan alongside three 

—$4 per month ($3 per month billed annually)

—$10 per month ($8 per month billed annually)

—$15/user per month ($12 per month billed annually)

Skiff Drive’s main advantage is a robust free plan encompassing numerous cutting-edge security measures. The platform offers zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption at no cost, so users can enjoy complete privacy without investments.

. All data reaches Skiff’s servers encrypted, so 

nobody—including their team—can access plaintext copies or decryption keys

Your login credentials get the same treatment—

, and you don’t need to leave any personal information to 

. You can also set up two-factor authentication to fortify your account against 

Besides these security features, the free plan comes with:

Optional InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) integration

Cloud backup for Android—is Google Drive the best way to keep your data safe?

With the continuing rise of remote work, the need for 

 is rapidly growing. Data security is the 

 of businesses using cloud solutions, and for a good reason—you’re entrusting a third party with a plethora of sensitive information.

cloud data protection is a set of principles you must follow to keep your information and files safe

 from unauthorized access or misuse. It has evolved into a comprehensive practice every business owner should be familiar with.

Reason cloud-based data protection is such a vital concept

Best ways to keep your data safe in the cloud environment

Why every business should care about data protection in the cloud

—Sensitive data actively used by software to perform various actions

—Any data moving through the network between endpoints

—All files and information stored on the cloud

Each data type is exposed to specific risks you must mitigate. 

, but internal hazards can be equally dangerous. Robust cloud protection is necessary for several reasons, including:

Prevention of misunderstandings related to security responsibilities

Security consistency across multiple cloud solutions

Minimization of the potential attack surface

With the right policies in place, you can future-proof your business against numerous threats and prevent significant losses caused by data breaches.

Data security in the cloud—the common challenges businesses face

Securing cloud data is a major endeavor that requires you to make numerous considerations. The following table breaks down the main data 

Checking all of the above boxes might take time and effort, but 

it builds a solid foundation for comprehensive security and privacy

. You should implement the necessary policies from the moment you migrate your data to the cloud to avoid costly errors and vulnerabilities.

Best practices for ensuring data protection in cloud environments

While the exact roadmap for securing your cloud data depends on your business’ specifics, there are four universal aspects you must cover:

 showed that only over one half (56%) of business owners know where their data is stored. This is the result of improper data inventory, which can be a dangerous mistake.

To implement the right security measures, 

you must know which sensitive data you’re trying to protect

. Not all data has the same treatment, so it’s crucial to know what you can store on the cloud. For instance, if you’re in the medical field, your cloud provider must be HIPAA-compliant to ensure you can store patient information without breaking any privacy regulations.

define the necessary security measures and policies

, after which you can start looking for the right cloud service.

Evaluate the provider’s security measures and practices

 and outstanding uptime, your cloud provider must offer robust security to keep your data safe. Built-in security measures can make or break the privacy and confidentiality of stored data regardless of your internal practices.

compliant with all the necessary regulations

 and has the right infrastructure in place. Ask about their server location and physical security to get a better idea of how they’ll safeguard your sensitive files.

As for online safety, some of the main security layers the vendor should have include:

Choose your provider carefully, as migrating to another solution in case of any issues can be time-consuming. 

Do proper due diligence before committing to a service

, and then focus on the internal security measures.

Educate your team on data protection and implement endpoint security

Remote work has many benefits, but it’s a serious liability when it comes to data protection. This is especially true if your 

 has a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy. Endpoints are among the weakest points of your system, so you must secure them properly.

 and make sure your team follows the necessary practices, including:

Staying away from public Wi-Fi when accessing the cloud with a 

Logging out of business accounts after work is complete

Being on the lookout for phishing or similar social engineering attacks

you should set up comprehensive endpoint protection

. From firewalls to malware protection, there are numerous security layers you should have in place to prevent data breaches.

Human error is possible despite your best efforts to keep data safe, so 

. They’re necessary for every disaster recovery strategy, so keep copies of all sensitive data stored and limit access to the backups.

Safeguard your data with end-to-end encryption

 is a vital component of cloud data protection. It’s a way of 

Eli MacKinnon