Troubleshooting

Recipient Not Valid for Encrypted Email

When I try to send an encrypted email to a business colleague I receive the error message shown in Figure 25.28. Why can't I send this person encrypted email?

Figure 25.28. This error is displayed when attempting to send an encrypted email.

This message appears whenever you attempt to send an encrypted email without having a copy of the recipient's public key available and attached to the recipient's contact record. To send an encrypted email, you must have the person in your Contact list and have his public key attached to the Contact record. To obtain a copy of the recipient's public key, have him send you a digitally signed email. You can then click the messenger icon next to his name and choose Add to Contacts. Doing so will add a contact record for him and attach his public key to the contact record.

The reason you need a copy of the recipient's public key is that sending an encrypted message uses his public key to encrypt the message. The recipient can then use his private key to decrypt the message.

Give Me My Attachments

A coworker sent me an Access database that I need to open. But Outlook tells me it blocked access to the unsafe attachment. I know the database is safe; it's from my coworker sitting ten feet from my desk. How can I access this attachment?

If you receive a message with a blocked attachment, you should always check to see what the attachment is before you attempt to retrieve it. Just because it comes from someone you know doesn't mean it's necessarily safe. However, if you know the attachment is safe, you have a few options:

• Have the person zip the attachment and resend it. This is by far the easiest option. Zip files are not restricted by Outlook 2003.

• Edit the Windows Registry to change certain attachment types from Level 1 to Level 2.

• Download the Attachment Options COM add-in to expose a property page within Outlook that edits this Registry key for you. The add-in can be found at www.slovaktech.com.

• Export the message to Outlook Express. Outlook Express enables you to turn attachment blocking on or off for the entire program, so you can turn the blocking off, access your file, and then turn the blocking back on.

Be aware that choosing option 2 or 3 puts you at a higher risk for virus attack. However, sometimes you just need to get that attachment.