Digital signature.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alasdair
  • Start date Start date
A

Alasdair

I have just installed Windows XP pro and find it very restrictive in
many ways.

I received an email message with an attachment which I wanted to
forward to my web hoster. I was unable to do it because it had been
"digitally signed". Please what should I do?
 
First of all, dealing with email is not a function of Windows XP (the
operating system) but of whatever email application you're using. More
than likely, you're using Outlook or Outlook Express.

Secondly, however, the fact that an attachment has been digitally signed
shouldn't prevent you from forwarding it. A digital signature is just a
mechanism to ensure that the communication you receive is (a) really
from the person from whom it purports to be and (b) hasn't been altered
since it was digitally signed.

What email program are you using, and what error message do you get?
 
First of all, dealing with email is not a function of Windows XP (the
operating system) but of whatever email application you're using. More
than likely, you're using Outlook or Outlook Express.

Secondly, however, the fact that an attachment has been digitally signed
shouldn't prevent you from forwarding it. A digital signature is just a
mechanism to ensure that the communication you receive is (a) really
from the person from whom it purports to be and (b) hasn't been altered
since it was digitally signed.

What email program are you using, and what error message do you get?
Click to expand...

I'm using Outlook Express 6 and the message I am getting is a box
headed "Outlook Express Mail". It then goes on to say "You cannot
send digitally signed messages because you do not have a digital ID
for this account" There are two buttons which say "Get Digital ID"
and "Cancel"

I've never had this come up in using Windows 2000 and Outlook Espress
for the past 5 years. What does it all mean, please?
 
Alasdair said:
I'm using Outlook Express 6 and the message I am getting is a box
headed "Outlook Express Mail". It then goes on to say "You cannot
send digitally signed messages because you do not have a digital ID
for this account" There are two buttons which say "Get Digital ID"
and "Cancel"

I've never had this come up in using Windows 2000 and Outlook Espress
for the past 5 years. What does it all mean, please?
Click to expand...

As I said earlier, a digital signature provides a cryptographic means
for the recipient to ensure that a message is authentic and has not been
tampered with.

The error message you see occurs because of a bug in OE6: "This problem
occurs because Outlook Express tries to send the e-mail message with a
digital signature even if there is not a digital ID present for the
forwarding mail account."

For workaround, see "You Receive an Error Message When You Try to
Forward or to Reply to a Digitally Signed E-Mail Message" here:
http://tinyurl.com/7pa8r
 
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