Yahoo to join Google to create spy-free email systems

Yahoo Inc will join Google Inc to create a secure email system by next year that could make it nearly impossible for hackers or government officials to read users' messages.

Yahoo has altered its email process for users adopting encryption type messages in a separate window, preventing even Yahoo from reading the messages as they are typed, a Wall Street Journal report said.

The move comes as large technology companies unite to beef up their defenses against government intrusion and hacking, most notably after Edward Snowden exposed last year the National Security Agency's mass surveillance programs.

Google, Microsoft and Facebook Inc moved to encrypt internal traffic after revelations by Snowden that the spy agency hacked into their connections overseas. The companies have also smaller adjustments that together make sweeping collection more difficult.

Yahoo officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, Google said it was encouraging website developers to make their sites secure for visitors by using site encryption as one of the factors to determine search ranking.

(Reuters)