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Guide · Sharing & workflow

How to send sensitive information by email securely.

Email is fine for sending a link. It is a poor place to leave passwords, account numbers, private notes, or credentials in the message body forever.

August 11, 20264 min read

The short answer

Keep sensitive text out of the email. Put it in an encrypted, expiring link, email the link, and send an optional passphrase through a different channel. Use textdrop.sh to make the link in your browser, then share the link instead of the sensitive text.

Do this. Not that.

  • Do
  • Use a neutral subject line that does not reveal private details
  • Send a short-lived encrypted link instead of the sensitive content
  • Verify the recipient's address before sending and confirm receipt separately
  • Don't
  • Put passwords, account numbers, or private records in the email body
  • Send a protected attachment and its password in the same thread
  • Assume transport encryption alone makes a mailbox private

Make a link now

Create a secure link before you write the email.

Make an encrypted paste, then send the URL in a neutral email. Add a passphrase for higher-risk information.

Why this matters

Most email services use transport encryption while a message moves between servers, but that does not stop the sender's and recipient's mailboxes, backups, forwarding rules, or a compromised account from exposing the contents later.

A secure link limits the sensitive material's lifespan. The email carries a pointer rather than the data itself; a short expiry and a separately shared passphrase reduce the impact if the message is forwarded or an inbox is compromised.

Common questions

Can I send sensitive information by email?+

Yes, but do not put the sensitive content in the email itself. Send an encrypted, expiring link or use an approved encrypted-email or secure-portal workflow required by your organization.

Is Gmail confidential mode the same as end-to-end encryption?+

No. Confidential mode can limit actions and set expiry, but it is not end-to-end encryption. Choose a method appropriate to the information and your organization's requirements.

What should the email subject say?+

Use a neutral subject such as 'Requested information' and avoid account numbers, health details, credentials, or other sensitive context that could remain visible in inboxes and notifications.

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