cPanel Email Encryption Explained
cPanel supports email encryption. This is a security feature to protect your messages from reaching unwanted recipients. When a message is encrypted, the recipient needs the key to decrypt the message. Otherwise, the message will not be readable to the user. In this tutorial, we are going to see how to encrypt the messages with cPanel.
cPanel use GnuPG feature to create the keys to encrypt the messages.
GnuPG
The GnuPG key stands for GNU Privacy Guard. The GnuPG is an implementation of the OpenPGP standard as defined by RFC4880. The OpenPGP is also known as PGP. The GnuPG is used to encrypt data or communication and offers a key management system. The GnuPG also offers modules for all kinds of public key directories.
Working of GnuPG
As in other key based encryption techniques, there are two types of keys for GnuPG. They are a public key and private key. As the name indicates, the two keys work specifically in encrypting and decrypting the documents. When a user encrypts the documentation using GnuPG, the public key will be used for encryption. This encrypted document can be decrypted only with the private key. Only the authorized users who have the private key will be able to decrypt and access the documentation.
If “A” wants to send an encrypted message to “B”, the message will be encrypted by the public key of “B” so that the message can be decrypted with the private key held by “B”.
How to Generate a key in cPanel?
Step 1
Login to cPanel. You could login to cPanel from the portal at https://my.1onlyhost.net if you have Linux shared hosting. cPanel is accessible at port 2083. You could access cPanel with the url written below. You need to replace the “domain.tld” with your domain name.
Step 2
Go to Email >> Encryption. Please refer the screenshot if there are any confusions.
Step 3
Provide the required details like Name, Email Address etc., and password.
Then click on the button “Generate Key”.
This is how we can generate a key for encryption using cPanel.
How to Import a key in cPanel?
In the previous step, we’ve seen how to generate a key. If there is already a key with you, you could import it from the same interface. You need to click on the “Import Key” button to import an existing key. The next page will provide you a text area where you can paste in the key. Please paste the key and click on the button “Import” to finish importing the key.
This is how enabling encryption using the cPanel.
If you need any further help please contact our support department.
