Accepting and deleting secret encryption keys

About this task

A secret key can be used to encrypt a document. That same key is also used to decrypt the document that is encrypted with the key. When someone sends you a secret encryption key, you need to accept the key in order to read the encrypted document it opens. Once you have accepted the secret encryption key, which gets stored in your User ID, you can read the encrypted document.

You can also delete secret encryption keys that you do not use anymore.

Note: If you are not an HCL Notes® mail user, the person with the secret encryption key needs to export the key to a place where you can then import it into your User ID.

Results

To accept a secret encryption key

About this task

Procedure

  1. Open the email message that has the secret encryption key attached.
  2. Click Actions > Accept Encryption Key.
  3. Click Accept.
  4. (Recommended) Create a backup copy or update existing copies of your User ID after you accept a secret key (unless you are a roaming user with the configuration that doesn't require you to keep a backup copy of your User ID).
  5. (Recommended) Create a backup copy or update existing copies of your User ID after you accept a secret key.

Results

To delete a secret encryption key

About this task

Procedure

  1. Click File > Security > User Security (Macintosh OS X users: Notes > Security > User Security).
  2. Click Notes Data > Documents.
  3. Select the secret encryption key you want to delete under "Secret Key Name."
  4. Click Other Actions > Delete Secret Key in the bottom right corner of the "Document Encryption" dialog box.
  5. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

Results