PC Gen: Information on Data Encryption Used in Mail
Article ID: 130322
Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 3.0
- Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 3.2
This article was previously published under Q130322
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 query words: 3.00 3.20
Keywords: KB130322