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The receiver will need to access the statement in a cyber cafe from a gmail account and print the statement as well. Would it make sense to encrypt the file or something in this scenario? Should I drop the idea of emailing the bank statement?

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Depends on whether you want the whole world to be able to get the statement content. – Daniel Beck♦ Sep 30 '11 at 17:35
Why would you want to in the first place? – Mike Chess Sep 30 '11 at 18:31
@Mike Chess, it is because it's needed for an application. – TPR Oct 2 '11 at 1:02

3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

You should avoid doing this if possible, unless you are comfortable with unknown third parties seeing your bank statement.

If you have to do it, use encryption, but know that it is quite possible that someone else in that cyber cafe may see it and from there it could be sent anywhere.

In general, never put anything in an e-mail that you are not comfortable with the whole world knowing.

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up vote 2 down vote

As long as the person on the other end doesn't leave a copy on the computer they are using, it should be alright. Also, when they print it a copy of the document might be stored in the printers memory depending on what type of printer it is, but it would likely be difficult for anyone to access that. While it is definatly possible for someone to intercept the email, or somehow gain access to the file, it is relativly unlikly in this senario. But really the security best practice in this senario would be to encrypt the email. So if it concerns you check out the following site, it's a free trial version of PGP encryption suite including email encryption.

https://www4.symantec.com/Vrt/offer?a_id=109690

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He's accessing it from a cyber cafe where anything can run, remote control software, key loggers, screen recorders. – Daniel Beck♦ Sep 30 '11 at 17:49
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All of those things can be on any computer at any time. Those same malicious applicaitons could be running on the OP's computer right now. I guess it all depends on what, if any, malware or antivirus software the Cyber Cafe has running on their machines, and whether or not the OP trusts that establishment's security standards. Any time you email confidential information to another person, you have to accept the posibility that it may end up in the wrong hands(especially when using a public computer), if that risk is not acceptable, then don't send the informaiton. – Dan Sep 30 '11 at 17:55
up vote 0 down vote

Most zip/compression utilities have the ability to password protect the archive, use a strong 12 (or more) character password. Use the phone to relay the password, not email.

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