Virtru FAQs

Getting Started

How can I encrypt my emails? Is it difficult?

Our video guide (available above or here) will get you started with Virtru. It is a very simple tool to use once activated. You can use Virtru when sending emails in a Chrome browser only. It is currently not supported in any other browser.

I do not see Virtru when I open up my email from my home laptop/computer?

The Virtru plugin is only installed in the Chrome browser within your VDI environment. If you need to send an encrypted email or read an encrypted email please log into your email from within your VDI environment. For BCC issued laptops, please contact the Helpdesk to install the virtru plugin on your laptop.

Can I read/send encrypted emails through my mobile device?

Yes, Virtru has an app available for download for both iOS and Android devices. Once the app is downloaded and configured you can read and send encrypted emails through the Virtru app on your mobile devices.

Should I use Virtru for all of my email?

We don’t recommend it. Most members of the BCC community don’t need to encrypt every email. In theory, encrypting all of your email sounds like a good idea. However, it will create an extra step for your recipients and make it more difficult for you to read your sent emails. For that reason, we recommend only encrypting emails with confidential information, or emails for which you want to control access. Please refer to our Data Classification & Handling Policy to determine what constitutes confidential and sensitive information.

Is there anything I shouldn’t send using Virtru?

While Virtru is a robust encryption tool, highly sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, health records etc. should not be transmitted via email unless absolutely necessary. Please refer to BCC’s Data classification and handling policy to identify information that is classified as highly sensitive.

What does Virtru protect against?

Since BCC’s email already secures email in transit, the most important feature of Virtru is access control. When sending encrypted email, you can also prevent a forwarded email from being read, and you can set a “read expiration” to revoke the ability to read an email after it is sent. Virtru’s end-to-end encryption can also protect you when you’re sending to external recipients who may have insecure email systems.

Can BCC “read” my email even if I use Virtru?

Technically, yes – though there are very strict rules about when BCC administration is able to access email. Using Virtru on your BCC account does not prevent legal discovery.

Once I install Virtru, is encryption on by default?

No. Encryption has to be enabled for any email that you want to encrypt using Virtru by toggling the Virtru slider. By default encryption is turned off.

Features

Can I send encrypted email to non-BCC addresses?

Yes, you can send encrypted email to any address.

Can I forward encrypted mail to others?

Yes, but be aware that forwarding an email when Virtru is turned on will have different results depending on the way the mail was forwarded and how it will be read. 

Can I prevent recipients from forwarding my email?

Yes. Virtru has a feature that allows users to Disable Forwarding of a Virtru Email. Please refer to the video  guide to see how to do this. Though your email can be forwarded and recipients can read the subject line and the unencrypted intro, they cannot decrypt the message or attachments. 

Are attachments encrypted?

Yes. 

Does Virtru work with delegated email addresses (shared mailboxes)?

Reading encrypted mail in a shared mailbox just requires your verification – the first time you access Virtru in a delegated mailbox, you’ll be prompted to confirm your access by receiving an email sent to your primary email address. 

Does Virtru work with Google Groups?

Yes. Not only can you send encrypted email to a group, but the access will respect changing group membership. If someone is removed from the group, they will no longer be able to decrypt emails to the group. However, please note as a good business practice,  encrypted emails should not be sent to large distribution groups. 

If I revoke access to an email, what do recipients see?

The email will still appear in their inbox, but when they open it, they will not be able to read the content; they will see a message indicating that access has been revoked.

Is there a difference if I send email to a BCC.edu address vs. someone outside of BCC?

Yes, though you can send to any email address, it’s easier for other members of the BCC community to read your encrypted email. Members of the BCC community can easily read your encrypted email inline because we are in the same email domain. Addresses outside of BCC will be required to click to read your email on the Virtru site. 

Troubleshooting

I’m trying to install Virtru for Firefox and nothing happens.

Virtru is only supported on Chrome.

I tried to forward an email and my recipient couldn’t read it.

The original sender may have disallowed forwarding. If forwarding was allowed, make sure you are forwarding the email on a web browser with the Virtru plugin or within the reader on Virtru’s site. If you forward the email outside of Virtru (for example, if you forward it on your phone and don’t have the app installed), your recipient won’t have permission to decrypt the email’s contents.

I’m having trouble setting up Virtru or reading a message sent to me.

Make sure that you’re not in an incognito/private window, and that you have cookies enabled. 

Why don’t images appear in my email?

Currently, Virtru does not show inline images (images that are copied and pasted into your email). You should add the image as an attachment instead. 

I am seeing a pop-up about updating Virtru. Is this legit?

In Chrome you may occasionally see a message that says “Virtru has been updated. Click here to refresh.” You’re seeing this because there’s a new, important update available such as a stability fix. Other, less important updates may occur automatically when you restart Chrome.