OL2000: Differences in Icons Used to Identify Outlook Security (217368)

SUMMARY

This article describes the differences among the e-mail icons seen when using Outlook S/MIME or Microsoft Exchange Server security.

Note The information about security icons in the "Symbols in Inbox" Help topic of Outlook 2000 is incomplete. This incomplete information may cause a misunderstanding. The topic has been removed from Help in Outlook 2002 and in Outlook 2003. Please refer to this article for an explanation of the security icons

MORE INFORMATION

When you receive an encrypted mail message, you will see one of these small icons on the right side of the message, just above the body of the message text:

Blue pen
Red certificate
Blue lock

Blue Pen

The message was sent using Exchange Server security.

Red Certificate

The message was sent using S/MIME and has an invalid certificate or a certificate with an unknown verification source.
The message was sent using S/MIME and includes a digital ID that is clear signed.

To include a digital ID, follow these steps:

On the Tools menu, click Options.
On the Security tab, click Add digital signature to outgoing messages, and Send clear text signed message.

Blue Lock

The message was sent using S/MIME and the digital ID was not sent using clear text. Send clear text signed message is not selected. The digital ID was sent encrypted.
The message is sent using S/MIME and is encrypted.

Only a message that is sent with a digital signature and is clear signed, will display correctly in the preview pane. The other messages mentioned must be opened to view them.

REFERENCES

For additional information about security and encription, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

195477 OL2000: Encryption and Message Security Overview