"Oh look! here's a message marked Confidential. I can't wait to read it!!!"
Encrypt it. Outlook help returned this:
Encrypting a message protects the privacy of the message by converting it
from plain, readable text into cipher (scrambled) text. Only the recipient
who has the private key (private key: The secret key kept on the sender's
computer that the sender uses to digitally sign messages to recipients and
to decrypt (unlock) messages from recipients. Private keys should be
password protected.) that matches the public key you used to encrypt the
message can decipher the message. This is a separate process from digitally
signing a message.
Encrypt on a per message basis
1.. In the message, click Options .
2.. Click Security Settings.
3.. Select the Encrypt message contents and attachments check box.
4.. To change additional settings, such as choosing a specific certificate
to use, click Change Settings.
5.. Click OK three times.
Tip
If you use Microsoft Word as your e-mail editor, there is a quick way to
encrypt a message. With the new message open, on the E-mail toolbar, click
the button.
Encrypt all messages
1.. In the main Outlook window, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then
click the Security tab.
2.. Select the Encrypt contents and attachments for outgoing messages
check box.
3.. To change additional settings, such as choosing a specific certificate
to use, click Settings.
Notes
a.. In order to send encrypted messages over the Internet, you need to
swap certificates (certificate: A digital means of proving your identity.
When you send a digitally signed message you are sending your certificate
and public key. Certificates are issued by a certification authority, and
like a driver's license, can expire or be revoked.) (.cer (.cer file: A file
that contains a certificate with a public key but no private key. Import the
..cer files into Contacts by clicking Import in the Certificates tab, and
then use the certificate to send encrypted messages.) files) with the
recipient. You can do this a number of ways. For example:
a.. Send a digitally signed message. The recipient adds your e-mail name
to Contacts and in doing so also adds your certificate.
b.. Send a message with your .cer file attached or give a floppy disk
with the .cer file. The recipient can import the .cer file into your contact
card.
c.. Create a contact card with your .cer file, and then send the contact
card.
d.. Publish your certificate to an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access
Protocol (LDAP): A protocol that provides access to Internet Directories.)
directory or another directory that is available to the other person.
e.. Post the certificate on a share that is available to the other
person.
b.. If your system administrator has set up security for your network
using Microsoft Exchange Server, it is not necessary to swap certificates.
c.. 3DES (3DES: An encryption algorithm based on the Data Encryption
Standard (DES). Triple DES (3DES) repeats DES three times. Consequently,
3DES runs slower than standard DES. However, it is more secure.) is the
default encryption algorithm. Encryption strength is no longer restricted by
the United States government. Microsoft Outlook uses the RC2 algorithm by
default when running on a 40-bit operating system that does not have 128-bit
encryption capabilities.
