Google touts extra encryption for Gmail, remains mum on other apps

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By Juan Carlos Perez

April 1, 2014 03:14 PM ET

IDG News Service - Google recently trumpeted that it now encrypts Gmail messages while shuffling them among its data centers, an extra security layer aimed at thwarting government and criminal snoops, but didn't say if it applies this protection to its other applications.

Asked for clarification, the company declined to comment. "We don't have more details to share beyond the Gmail news, but we're always working in strengthening and encrypting across more services and links," a spokeswoman said via email.

Google's reluctance to clarify the scope of its internal encryption is baffling and does a disservice to enterprise customers who rely on the Apps suite for workplace communication, cloud storage and collaboration, according to analysts.

"When confronted with the evidence of a compromise, and asked for an explanation as to how it happened and what they are doing about it, Google is dissembling. This is no basis for trust," said Jay Heiser, a Gartner analyst.

At issue are reports from last year, based on leaks from former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, that the agency snooped on users of online services in part by intercepting data Internet companies transmitted unencrypted in "plain text" among their own servers and data centers.

Back in September, Google officials told The Washington Post that the company was accelerating efforts to encrypt communications between its data centers as a result of these reports.

"It's an arms race," Eric Grosse, vice president for security engineering at Google, said at the time.

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Google touts extra encryption for Gmail, remains mum on other apps