OL2000: E-Mail Is Sent with 40-Bit Encryption Instead of 128-Bit Encryption (816787)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP-3)
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you send an encrypted e-mail message from Outlook 2000, you may not be warned that it has been encrypted with 40-bit encryption instead of 128-bit encryption. This symptom may occur after you have updated your copy of Office 2000 with the Office 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) patch.

WORKAROUND

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\Security

  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click REG_DWORD.
  4. Type UseAlternateDefaultEncryptionAlg, and then press ENTER.
  5. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  6. Type 1, and then click OK.
The value 1 enables 128-bit encryption of your e-mail messages. The value 0 leaves encryption at the 40-bit encryption level. If you set the value to 0, you receive the following warning message when you send encrypted e-mail messages: This message will be encrypted using a 40 bit key so that all recipients can decrypt and read it. This may not be the security level that you want. Do you want to send this message?

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about using encryption in Outlook 2000, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

202181 OL2000: Using Outlook with 128-bit Encryption Version

815623 OL2000: How to Enable the Digital Security Features for Outlook 2000

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/26/2003
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB816787
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