PC Gen: Information on Data Encryption Used in Mail

 Last reviewed: August 22, 1995
Article ID: Q130322
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, versions 3.0 and 3.2

SUMMARY

Microsoft Mail for PC Networks uses data encryption technology to provide security on many of the data files found in the postoffice database. Examples of the files that are encrypted are all .MAI, .ATT, .CAL, and .MMF files, as well as password fields in the MASTER.GLB and ACCESS.GLB files. Encrypting these files prevents anyone from dumping their contents and openly viewing the information contained in the file.

MORE INFORMATION

The data encryption algorithm employed by Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, while being proprietary, is NSA (National Security Agency) approved.

Microsoft Mails data encryption technique is similar to the Data Encryption Standard (DES) as designed by the National Bureau of Standards; however, unlike DES, the data encryption technology employed by Microsoft Mail is exportable outside the United States.

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.20
KBCategory: kbother
KBSubcategory: MailPCGen

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Last reviewed: August 22, 1995
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