07 September 2016

Why Did a Signed OpenPGP Email Fail a Signature Test at the Recipient's End?

One of our customers signed an email message with the Encryptomatic OpenPGP add-in for MS Outlook, but noticed that the recipient was unable to verify the message's digital signature, which was reported as invalid. They contacted our support team to report a bug.
On closer examination, our technician discovered that the message was being altered at the email server by MsgTag, a service that inserts web beacons into messages so that the sender knows it has been read.
This is essentially the sort of man-in-the-middle attacks that PGP signing a message is supposed to signal. If a message has been altered in transit, then a OpenPGP signed message will fail a signature test.
You can learn more about Web Beacons here.
If you are a user of #MsOutlook, download a copy of Encryptomatic OpenPGP and start protecting your email messages.

01 September 2016

How to Permanently Erase Emails from Microsoft Outlook

Most people reasonably believe that when they delete an email message from Microsoft Outlook and empty the trash folder, the message is permanently erased.  Forensic investigators know this is untrue, and use the ignorance of Outlook users to recover emails during investigations. Deleted Outlook emails are easily be retrieved with a number of off-the-shelf software tools.   Depending on your perspective, this could be good or bad news. It's great news if you deleted an email with pictures you forgot to save.  It's bad news if you thought you had removed emails that contact embarrassing information.

Even after deletion, emails remain your Outlook .pst or .ost file until you compact the file. Compacting a .pst/.ost file is a feature that Microsoft discourages by making it difficult to access. Besides permanently removing deleted emails, another benefit of compacting is that it makes your .pst/.ost files smaller, saving space. 

How to compact your Outlook .pst file


My example uses Microsoft Outlook 2016, and will be similar on Outlook 2013.

Step 1. Delete your email messages and empty your Trash folder.

You know how to do this. Just click on an Outlook email message and press delete.

Step 2. Empty the trash folder for your .pst file.  

In the Outlook Inbox panel, locate the Trash folder. Press or Right click on it and delete "Empty."

Empty Outlook Trash Folder


Your emails will now appear to be deleted.  They will not appear in your email list or as the result of a search, but as we know they are still lurking beyond sight.

Step 3.  Compact your Outlook .pst/.ost file

In the Outlook folder list, tap or right click on the top line of the .pst/.ost file.  It may have your email address, or if you renamed it, it could have any other name. 

This will bring up a context menu.  Select "Data File Properties."

Outlook data file properties.
Outlook Data File Properties

Selecting "Date File Properties" will take you to the Properties window.  Select "Advanced," then "Compact Now."

Screen shot showing how to locate the "Compact Now" feature in Outlook 2016.
Click "Compact Now" to begin compacting the PST or OST file.

Outlook will begin compacting the PST file and in the process permanently destroying all deleted in the file.  


Screen shot of Outlook window displaying "Compact Now."
Microsoft Outlook "Compact Now" 


If you have not compacted your Outlook PST/OST file before, it could take several minutes to complete the operation.

We hope this helps you manage the size of your Outlook email files, while helping secure your privacy by permanently removing emails you thought you had deleted.  If you have any questions or comments, please post them below.

Encryptomatic LLC is a Windows software developer with a suite of products that help its customers manage their email content. Learn more.



27 July 2016

Encryptomatic Offers OpenPGP Email Encryption Add-in for Microsoft Outlook

Screen image of Encryptomatic OpenPGP add-in in Outlook 2013.
Encryptomatic OpenPGP add-in for Microsoft Outlook

In late 2015, we launched Encryptomatic OpenPGP add-in for Outlook due to the expense and installation difficulties we were having with other PGP email encryption add-ins for Outlook. We needed a product that installed easily, didn't contain any ad-ware, offered a signed installer package, and was so easy that even we could use it. In the end, we had to build our own OpenPGP add-in to get the features we wanted.

As a company, we have always believed that encryption needs to be part of every Microsoft Outlook user's security arsenal.  When the product was released last year, the uptake was slow, and we had a few rough edges to work out. Since then, we couldn't be more pleased with the reception that Encryptomatic OpenPGP has received from business people, private individuals, non-profit organizations, journalists, the security community and even governments.

If you are a Windows Outlook user who wants to learn more about encrypting emails, but  you don't have a Ph.D. in cryptography, we think you'll appreciate how easy it is to install and use Encryptomatic OpenPGP.



22 March 2016

How to Run Open Whisper Systems' Signal Messenger App on Windows

One our favorite tools for secure messaging is Signal Secure Messenger app by Whisper Systems.  Signal is widely lauded for its end-to-end encrypted messaging, which is as easy to use as regular MMS/SMS texting.  Signal is available for iOS on the Apple AppStore and on Android through Google Play.

Open Whisper Systems is working on a Windows desktop app. It's in beta, but there is a long list to be invited to participate.  You can sign up for the beta here.

So while there is no released Signal app for Windows yet, we have discovered a way to install and use Signal on Windows. It involves an Android emulator and Google Voice. If you can't wait for the official Windows Signal app, here's you can get up and running today!

What you will need to install Signal on Windows 10


1. A Google or Gmail Account
2. A Google Voice phone number. Forward your Google voice number to Google Chat.
3. BlueStacks Android App Player

Once you have the above items, continue on.

Start the BlueStacks app player, and log into Google Play using your Gmail/Google account.

Install the Signal app and run it.

Signal will ask you to enter your phone number. Enter your Google Voice number.

Enter your Google Voice number into Signal

Signal will attempt to verify your phone number by sending a SMS code.  It will be unable to receive the SMS verification code of course, because you are running Signal from BlueStacks, and not a real phone.


Request that Signal call your Google Voice number with the verification code.

Request a voice call from Signal.

Signal will now dial your Google Voice number.  Google Voice will answer and record the verification code.  To retrieve this code, go to your Google messenger inbox.

The message will appear as a recording in your Inbox. Play the message to get the code.
Retrieve the Signal verification code from Google messenger.


Go back to Signal and enter the verification code. The installation of Signal will continue.

Signal app continues installation in BlueStacks after entering the verification code

You are now ready to start using Signal on Windows to send and receive secure messages!


Signal Messenger App Running in Windows 10
To start enjoying the privacy that comes with encrypted end-to-end messaging, invite your friends to install Signal. A million other people have done so.



25 February 2016

MBOX File Support Added to PstViewer Pro Version 8.0

Today we are releasing an update for PstViewer Pro. Version 8.0 is now available for download. This is a recommended update for all eligible customers.

Image of PstViewer Pro with MBOX selected.
PstViewer Pro now supports viewing/converting MBOX files.

PstViewer Pro now includes support for viewing searching and converting emails stored in ‪#‎MBOX‬ files. Mbox files contain multiple ‪#‎email‬ messages and their file attachments.  Mbox files are created by many different email clients, including the popular Mozilla Thunderbird client.

This capability is included in the latest PstViewer Pro download (v8) and is available to all customers who purchased EmlViewer Pro in the past year, or who have an updated support/maintenance plan. Contact supportline at encryptomatic.com with any questions!

17 February 2016

MessageExport 4.07 maintenance release now available.

Encryptomatic LLC has released a maintenance update for MessageExport add-in for Microsoft Outlook. This update is an optional but recommended update that resolves some installation issues due to Microsoft's SmartScreen filter.  In 2016 Microsoft deprecated signing SHA1 code signing certificates, causing SmartScreen to issue a warning when installing software. This update incorporates a stronger Sha2 codesign certificate to placate Microsoft.

Shows MessageExport installed in Outlook toobar.
MessageExport for Outlook is updated for version 4.07