iPhone email and SSL encryption

iPhone email and SSL encryption

I just purchased an iPhone and am trying to set up my email account. After setting up an account, I received a message saying that SSL cannot be activated. What are the security risks of using these account settings? What are my other options?

Security expert Mike Chapple:
The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

    Requires Free Membership to View

    Login

    SearchSecurity.co.UK members gain immediate and unlimited access to breaking UK industry news, virus alerts, new hacker threats, highly focused security newsletters, and more -- all at no cost. Join me on SearchSecurity.co.UK today!

    Michael S. Mimoso, Editorial Director

    By submitting your registration information to SearchSecurity.co.uk you agree to receive email communications from TechTarget and TechTarget partners. We encourage you to read our Privacy Policy which contains important disclosures about how we collect and use your registration and other information. If you reside outside of the United States, by submitting this registration information you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Your use of SearchSecurity.co.uk is governed by our Terms of Use. You may contact us at webmaster@TechTarget.com.

provides encryption for TCP/IP connections as they transit the Internet and local networks between a client and a server. In the case of iPhone email, SSL encrypts all of the communication between your phone and your mail server.

Why is this important? There are two very significant reasons. First, checking mail without using SSL means anyone with a device on the same network can eavesdrop on your communications. They can use commonly available tools, such as Wireshark, to read your email as it transits the network.

If you're not concerned about the confidentiality of your messages, there's another important reason to encrypt your email connections: protecting the security of your account. If you don't encrypt your connection to the mail server, it will send your username and password in cleartext on the network. An eavesdropper would then be able to log in to your mail account and send/receive email using your identity.

For these reasons, I strongly recommend that you use SSL-enabled connections for sending and receiving email, not just on your iPhone, but on all devices.


This was first published in April 2008

Disclaimer: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.

Back to top