Set and Force Gmail to Always Use Secure HTTPS Browser Connection

For a lot of people, Gmail, or Google Mail is some countries, is now the main webmail service provider, with Gmail Inbox and other mailboxes store tons of email messages with important, sensitive, intimating or private information. Transmit the data from Google servers to web browser via unsecured HTTP protocol over the Internet, especially on public WiFi or non-encrypted wireless network, will risk the data and contents been sniffed and leaked to hackers, or in worst case, Google account vulnerable to hijacking.

Previously, although Gmail supports accessing its web-based user interface via secure HTTPS protocol, however, user will have to manually type in the URL starting with https:// (or bookmark as favorite the link location to access secure Gmail webmail interface) in order to browse Gmail mailboxes securely.

As an effort to protect the security risk of Gmail users, and minimize the risk of unauthorized or malicious crackers impersonate Gmail users to gain full access to Google account, Google has added an option to force Gmail to always use HTTPS Internet connection, which data transferring and transmitting communication is authenticated, encrypted and more secure.

How to Enable Always Use HTTPS Feature in Gmail

1. Sign in to Gmail.
2. Click on Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. On the bottom of the “Settings” page, set Browser Connection to Always use https.

   By default, it’s configured as Don’t always use https or unset, where Gmail uses secure or non-secure Internet connection depends on which URL link location used to access the Gmail service.

4. Click Save Changes button.
5. Reload Gmail to switch over to HTTPS connection immediately.

Do note that selecting ‘Always use https’ will prevent you from accessing Gmail via HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). In addition, it may make Gmail a bit slower, and user may encounter errors such as unexpected error or the app terminates and quits suddnly when using the Gmail for mobile application.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 3:14 am and is filed under Application & Software. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.