Digital ID's

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andrew
  • Start date Start date
A

Andrew

I'm new to Digital ID's (Certificates) for email signing and encryption.

Question: When the certificate expires what happens? Can the email no
longer be accessed? Does OL notify you, and then open the email?

Thanks in advance,
- Andrew
 
A Certificate ID & Encryption are two seperate items.
A Certificate ID has to be purchased from one of the appropriate providers
and is generally valied for one year. The Co. will send you a reminder when
its expiring.
Its purpose is to validate yr mail, and or, response in certain secure
sites. It cofirms yr identity and the communication is from you.The
ID,unless specifically stated, is linked to a single (your) mail address.
Mail sent using a Cert.ID is not encrypted.

Encryption simply encrypts yr msgs to another party. They have to have a
corresponding key in order to read any mail. There are a number of public
domain Apps of this type eg 'Pretty good privacy' being one.
http://web.bham.ac.uk/N.M.Queen/pgp/pgp.html
David
 
Yes, thank you. I understand that signing and encryption are trwo
seperate things. Perhaps, I was not clear.

You can used a personal Digital ID (Certificate) from a CA like Verisign
or Thawte as the basis for your encryption. The receiver obviously has
to be enformed of the key. As you point out these expire after
(frequently) a one year period. The question is:

If you later try to read a message that was originally encryped using a
Certificate that has since expired, what happens?

Thanks in advance,
A
 
The short answer is I dont know, however I would imagine since the
certificate is still on the PC, though perhaps expired, any mail would still
be accessable.
I know I can still read my mail that was sent using previous certificates.
David
PS I hope you backup/export any certificates
 
Thanks.
The short answer is I dont know, however I would imagine since the
certificate is still on the PC, though perhaps expired, any mail would still
be accessable.
I know I can still read my mail that was sent using previous certificates.
David
PS I hope you backup/export any certificates
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