Design of an email auto delete algorithm that allows a sender to delete sent mail from the receivers’ inbox for android operating system.

Abstract

Although email is a valuable tool, it creates security challenges when not properly managed. There is a growing adoption of email as official form of communication in many organizations with majority of users on mobile android devices. Banks, health Care and many other service providers are communicating to their clients through email in which they share sensitive and confidential information. One major threat is that email users lack confidentiality on their emails accessed via android mobile due to weaknesses of android OS platform that is easy to penetrate by hackers .and android email client that presents a onetime login and password authentication can only be. required again if the email account is deleted from the android mobile device. In this study, we designed un algorithm and implemented on an android application that allows an email sender to compose an email and set the time the email will stay in the receiver inbox before it automatically wipes off. The researcher prepared a questionnaire that was shared with the email users, the users comprised of those with email technical background and those that are typical email users and we were able to get their opinion on the lack of confidentiality on the android mobile email. We also engaged them in testing and evaluating of the algorithm where they were able to confirm that the algorithm addresses the confidentiality threat on. the android email clients. The algorithm has been found to address the confidentiality challenge that android mobile. platforms face and users recommended it to be incorporated into email standard operation. process to avoid old yet confidential information from remaining in user inbox.