Author Topic: Do you use Security Certificates or Encryption... (Read 8951 times)

Zylstra · « **on:** September 30, 2006, 05:43:13 PM »

Do you use Security Certificates or Encryption with your email?

I do...

What do you think of it? I think its a good idea...

soybean · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2006, 05:56:32 PM »

I'm not currently using either. I did install a security certificate for email back in May 2005 but did not reinstall it when I installed a new hard drive and reinstalled my OS in Oct 2006 after installing a new hard drive. I do think it's a good idea, yet, I believe, used by very few computer users. I'd guess it's more common in corporate settings than among home or small office users.

I got the certificate from Thawte (thawte.com). Where did you get yours? Have you experienced any problems using it, such as recipients not being able to open mail received from you or being confused by seeing something they were not familiar with?

Zylstra · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2006, 10:17:42 PM »

I can no longer remember where I got it from. I do know it was free, but only for home users, it could not be used in businesses.
Microsoft recommended it.

I have had no problems at all.
I guess it is something especially great if you are in a corporate setting.

soybean · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2006, 10:53:25 PM »

Free Personal E-mail Certificates can be obtained from http://www.thawte.com/secure-email/personal-email-certificates/index.html. I really did not have a problem with it. My mother seemed confused about email she recevied from me after I installed the Certificate and, if I recall correctly, once said she could not open a certified message. Again, I believe she was just confused about seeing something different about my email. Otherwise, no problem.

Raptor · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2006, 05:35:55 AM »

I haven't got a clue about that. Worth reading up on?

Zylstra · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2006, 12:35:35 PM »

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I haven't got a clue about that. Worth reading up on?

If email is your life... then yes

Raptor · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2006, 01:48:59 PM »

How easy is it to intercept and read E-mail without?

Zylstra · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2006, 01:58:12 PM »

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How easy is it to intercept and read E-mail without?

Well... you see... if the recipient is using a certificate too, then the messages will be encrypted. If the recipient has their certificate, and you have one too, then it will be much harder to intercept.

Messages can be intercepted on larger networks.

patio · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2006, 02:24:19 PM »

" Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you..."

Raptor · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2006, 02:28:03 PM »

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Quote
How easy is it to intercept and read E-mail without?
Well... you see... if the recipient is using a certificate too, then the messages will be encrypted. If the recipient has their certificate, and you have one too, then it will be much harder to intercept.

Messages can be intercepted on larger networks.

What if the recipient doesn't have the certificate I have?

Zylstra · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2006, 02:41:00 PM »

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Quote
Quote
How easy is it to intercept and read E-mail without?
Well... you see... if the recipient is using a certificate too, then the messages will be encrypted. If the recipient has their certificate, and you have one too, then it will be much harder to intercept.

Messages can be intercepted on larger networks.

What if the recipient doesn't have the certificate I have?

Then the message will not be encrypted, and it will be like a normal message

patio · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2006, 02:41:30 PM »

Can't open the mail...gibberish is what it will look like.

Zylstra · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2006, 02:42:50 PM »

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Can't open the mail...gibberish is what it will look like.

they will still be able to open it... its just going to show like a regular messge

patio · « **Reply #13 on:** October 01, 2006, 02:56:21 PM »

Encrypted it will be gibberish...

Lacking a certificate i believe you will still be able to recieve the e-mail...

Zylstra · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2006, 02:58:19 PM »

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Encrypted it will be gibberish...

Lacking a certificate i believe you will still be able to recieve the e-mail...

But it wont send encrypted unless the recipeint has a certificate as well

Raptor · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2006, 03:04:36 PM »

Why are you two saying conflicting things?

How often is it that someone does not have the certificate that I have? Will companies that I buy PC items from have the certificates?

Zylstra · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2006, 03:07:10 PM »

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Why are you two saying conflicting things?

How often is it that someone does not have the certificate that I have? Will companies that I buy PC items from have the certificates?

It depends. I would suspect that they might. Its mostly automated whether or not encryption is added or not, if they have your certificate and if they have one, then yes, they will use that. If you don't have one and they have one, then it will not be encrypted. If you have one and they don't, then it wont be encrypted.

Raptor · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2006, 03:29:00 PM »

Quote

Quote
Why are you two saying conflicting things?

How often is it that someone does not have the certificate that I have? Will companies that I buy PC items from have the certificates?
It depends. I would suspect that they might. Its mostly automated whether or not encryption is added or not, if they have your certificate and if they have one, then yes, they will use that. If you don't have one and they have one, then it will not be encrypted. If you have one and they don't, then it wont be encrypted.

So I am vulnerable without certificates?

Do E-mail clients such as Outlook Express and Thunderbird come with these free certificates?

If certificates are available on the net for free, wouldn't that mean they've been cracked ten times over?

Zylstra · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2006, 04:07:48 PM »

Quote

Quote
Quote
Why are you two saying conflicting things?

How often is it that someone does not have the certificate that I have? Will companies that I buy PC items from have the certificates?
It depends. I would suspect that they might. Its mostly automated whether or not encryption is added or not, if they have your certificate and if they have one, then yes, they will use that. If you don't have one and they have one, then it will not be encrypted. If you have one and they don't, then it wont be encrypted.

So I am vulnerable without certificates?

Do E-mail clients such as Outlook Express and Thunderbird come with these free certificates?

If certificates are available on the net for free, wouldn't that mean they've been cracked ten times over?

Not really vulnerable...

OE and Thunderbird do not offer them directly, but Microsoft does recommend some free services

Cracked? Not really. Though certificates can be broken into and become invalid. Its all automated for you pretty much.

patio · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2006, 04:19:14 PM »

There are 2 things being confused here...
Certificates mean that the recieved e-mail message is from who it actually says it's from... that's the purpose of certificates.

Encryption is a totally different beast.
If i encrypt an e-mail i have to send the encryption key to the recipient in order for them to view that e-mail...without it it is gibberish...

Zylstra · « **Reply #20 on:** October 02, 2006, 04:53:55 PM »

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There are 2 things being confused here...
Certificates mean that the recieved e-mail message is from who it actually says it's from... that's the purpose of certificates.

Encryption is a totally different beast.
If i encrypt an e-mail i have to send the encryption key to the recipient in order for them to view that e-mail...without it it is gibberish...

And the key comes with the certificate.

You need the certificate to use Encryption, and to have a key.

Raptor · « **Reply #21 on:** October 02, 2006, 11:58:22 PM »

I'll go download a certificate, then.

honvetops · « **Reply #22 on:** October 03, 2006, 06:05:20 AM »

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" Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you..."

ROFLMAO

Zylstra · « **Reply #23 on:** October 03, 2006, 04:18:55 PM »

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I'll go download a certificate, then.

Tell us what you think...

BTW: Remember, you can always remove the certificate if problems like Patio described occure

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Do you use Security Certificates or Email Encryption

Author Topic: Do you use Security Certificates or Encryption... (Read 8951 times)

Zylstra

soybean

Zylstra

soybean

Raptor

Zylstra

Raptor

Zylstra

patio

Raptor

Zylstra

patio

Zylstra

patio

Zylstra

Raptor

Zylstra

Raptor

Zylstra

patio

Zylstra

Raptor

honvetops

Zylstra