Encrypting and signing messages
You can encrypt and digitally sign messages you send.
Before you begin
To sign, read, and send encrypted mail, your IBM® Notes® ID must be stored in your mail file. If your mail file does not contain your Notes ID, all delivery options and preference settings for sign and encrypt are disabled. In addition, when you try to read encrypted mail that you have received, you will see only a warning in the body of the message saying the message is encrypted. Check the status message to determine if your mail file contains a Notes ID file. If it does not, import your Notes ID. To do this, go to Preferences > Security.
- Send an unencrypted message.
- Have them send you a message that is signed using their Internet certificate or Notes public key. Then, when you receive the message, add the name to your Contacts. The contact record will include their Internet certificate or Notes public key.
About this task
Encrypting a message scrambles the information so that only the recipients you specify can read it. Signing a message ensures the recipient that you are the author of the message, and that no one has tampered with the information in it. This is a digital signature, which is different than a personal signature. A digital signature is a scrambled version of your signature.
If a message is encrypted, a padlock icon displays next to the sender's name. If a message is signed, a seal icon appears. If trust cannot be verified or if the message has been tampered with, a broken seal icon appears.
You can encrypt and sign each message individually, or configure your mail so that all of your messages are encrypted and signed. To encrypt and sign individual messages, from a message you are creating check Sign or Encrypt before sending the message. Use the following steps to encrypt and sign all your mail messages.