Privacy is more important now than ever, especially when you realise that over 800,000 people experience ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, or data security breaches every year, Exploding Topics reports.

We have established that it is indeed true that your mobile device is listening to your conversations, but another interesting question arises – does Google know what’s happening in your emails?
 

Can Google Read My Emails?

Since Gmail is a service provided by Google, emails sent from Gmail accounts are stored on Google’s server. This means that Google can technically read any message sent via Gmail, or that is received by a Gmail account.

Fortunately, this information is not as alarming as it seems.

Google’s Privacy Policy

Google has a strict privacy policy, and in order to uphold its reputation, it must adhere to those policies. According to Google’s privacy policy, Google does not scan or read Gmail messages for targeted advertisements unless very specific circumstances arise.

This means that Google does not use data from your inbox or outbox for the purpose of showing you paid ads, and it is not spying on the email chain between you and your coworkers.

How Do Messages End Up In My Junk Folder?

Google is not browsing through your messages to hand-pick whether they should be shown on your primary list or whether they should disappear in your junk folder.

Instead, Google actually uses automated systems that analyse emails, filtering them for spam messages and malware infections. If these programs detect the likelihood of either, it will filter the message into the junk folder.

When Will Google Read My Messages?

Google has the right to access emails under specific circumstances, which are all outlined in its terms and conditions. These conditions include:

Legal obligations: If presented with a valid legal warrant or court order, Google may need to access messages of the concerned party.
User safety: If Google suspects that someone is facing an immediate threat, it might access emails to evaluate the situation and potentially prevent harm. This includes situations such as self-harm or violent threats.
Terms of Service violations: Google has the right to your emails if they suspect violations of their Terms of Service – including using a Gmail account for illegal activities.
Troubleshooting technical issues: Rarely, Google engineers may access certain user data, including emails, to troubleshoot technical problems you may be experiencing with your Gmail account. This access is restricted to resolving the concerning issue.
 

Can A VPN Keep My Emails Private?

VPNs offer many benefits, among others, it can enhance your privacy and help ensure that your emails and messages won’t receive unwanted attention.

VPNs act as a reliable tool to enhance the privacy of your messages, and it does this through encryption and by hiding your IP Address.

Enhancing Email Privacy Through Encryption

 
VPNs secures your network by encrypting all of your internet traffic, including messages. This means that there is an added layer of security over your messages, as VPN’s encrypt your messages between your device and the VPN server.

This makes your data appear scrambled in the cyber web and makes it impossible for any hacker to read, making it increasingly difficult for eavesdroppers to spy on your emails and texts – even while you’re using public WiFi, which makes messages more vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Enhancing Email Privacy By Hiding Your IP Address

 
VPNs also hide your IP address, which masks the connection between you and other users, including those who send and receive your messages. This makes it extra difficult for hackers to track your location and spy on your messages.

By hiding your IP address, VPNs also allow you to gain certain benefits such as discounts and other online shopping deals, and allows you to use the internet securely so that hackers can’t spy on your internet activity.

Choosing The Right VPN For Email Privacy

Not all VPNs are created equally, and it is important to choose a reputable service provider. Look for features that have strong encryption protocols such as AES-256 with 2048-bit keys.

Ensure the VPN provider has a strict no-logs policy. This guarantees that the provider does not record your data or activity, including messages sent, websites visited and apps used.

VPNs with built-in leak protection helps protect your real IP address from leaking outside the encryption. This also helps protect your location and messaging privacy.

Choosing Secure Messaging Apps

VPNs can significantly contribute to keeping your messages safe and out of reach from hackers and eavesdroppers, but it is incredibly important that you choose a messaging app that has secure end-to-end encryption. This will help prevent your messages from leaking outside of the app.

While Google can read your Gmail messages, it has a strict privacy policy that prevents it from doing so unless specific conditions arise. These conditions include legal obligations, user safety concerns, violations of Google’s Terms of Service, and technical troubleshooting.

A VPN can help keep your messages private and prevent them from being spied on, although it is equally important to ensure the messaging apps you use have reliable end-to-end encryption to prevent messages from leaking.