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Encrypted form submissions
If you're submitting private information, such as your credit card number,
you want to be sure that no eavesdropper can see that information.
FormMailEncoder works with FormMail,
and your browser's HTTPS connection, to ensure that your private
information can only be viewed by the intended recipient.
What is FormMailEncoder/FormMailDecoder?
FormMailEncoder uses Strong Cryptography to ensure the data
you submit on a form is encrypted all the way to its destination.
FormMailDecoder is used by the recipient on their private Windows PC to
view the information you submitted. Only personnel who know a
secret password can access the information encrypted by FormMailEncoder.
If you've come to this page because you're using a website form that
uses FormMailEncoder, we've provided information below that explains
how your data is secured.
Is your form submission secure?
FormMailEncoder does not take the place of HTTPS. Rather, it
works with a secure connection from your browser to ensure that
your information is secure all the way to its destination.
Look for a URL that begins with "https". Your browser may also show a lock
icon in the status bar.
This protects your information from your browser to the server.
But no further.
If the form you're filling in also uses FormMailEncoder, then your
information is protected from your browser all the way
to the intended recipient.
How secure is FormMailEncoder?
We've implemented state-of-the-art encryption technology that has been
adopted by the US Government as a
standard for
cryptographic applications.
FormMailEncoder uses the AES algorithm with a 128-bit key. The key is randomly
generated for each message (i.e. each form submission). It protects this key using
the RSA Public Key algorithm with a 2304-bit modulus.
At current estimates, it would take a huge network of the fastest computers
well over 50 years to guess a message key and decrypt the message.
Form submissions without FormMailEncoder are insecure
Usually, form submissions containing your private information
travel across the World Wide Web
to a server and then travel to the intended recipient via email.
Throughout its journey, your private information is in clear text and is viewable
by any eavesdropper!
A form that uses HTTPS protocol only partially protects your
information.
Even with HTTPS, form submissions are not secure
A form that only uses an HTTPS connection (using TLS/SSL) protects
your information while it travels from your browser to the server.
Your information is kept private while on its journey
to the server.
But, an email from the server to the intended recipient is still visible!
Worse still, the email may be stored on the server for some hours or days before
it is collected. While it is stored, your private information
is viewable by people who have access to that server.
FormMailEncoder with HTTPS provides excellent security
In addition to using the HTTPS connection, advanced forms use FormMailEncoder
to ensure that your private information is secured once it arrives at the server
and through the rest of its journey to the intended recipient.
Only the intended recipient, with their unique secret password, can access
your private information.
FormMailEncoder for your website
If you have a website and you want to secure your customers' form submissions,
we've provided
more information.
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