Reading encrypted and/or digitally signed messages

To exchange encrypted messages, you must first obtain your own digital ID from a certifying authority (see the Microsoft Internet Explorer Digital ID site for a link to a certifying authority's Web site). and then give the "public key" portion of the digital ID to the people you want to correspond with.

By default, Outlook Express sends your public key whenever you send a digitally signed message. To check this, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Click the Security tab, click Advanced Settings, and then make sure that the option Including my digital ID with signed messages is checked.

After you send a digitally signed message with your digital ID to a contact, you can read an encrypted message from them the same way you read a regular message.

Note

• When you receive a digitally signed message, you can add the sender's digital ID into your address book if you don't already have it.

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