Using ContentAssurity

Unprotecting & Verifying content


To unprotect / verify content

1.  In the application that has the secured content, highlight it (including the -----BEGIN MESSAGE BLOCK----- and -----END MESSAGE BLOCK----- markers) and select the 'copy' function to copy it to the clipboard.  

Alternatively, you can select multiple content in a document or the whole document and copy it to the clipboard.  NOTE: ContentAssurity will ignore content that is not protected - it only processes the protected content.

2.  In ContentAssurity, decide if you want to add the content you are are about to unprotect/verify to the content archive.  If you want to save this content then enable the 'Archive Content' Archive Content button.

3.  Press the Unprotect/Verify button button.  Content is unprotected/verified and pasted into the ContentAssurity window.


ContentAssurity checks any signature(s) immediately to make sure nothing has been altered, and then checks to see if you already know the signatory (either because you already have their key or because they have used a key from a recognized public Certification Authority).  If either check fails you are warned.  If secured content has been modified you will also be warned. Modified content cannot be displayed so the screen will remain blank.

NOTE:  It does not matter which signing key or protection key is displayed in the 'Sign As' or 'Protect For' drop-down list boxes as these fields are ignored. Unprotection and verification is transparent - ContentAssurity automatically works out if you have the key(s) required to unprotect and verify the content. If you do not have the correct key(s) in your keystore ContentAssurity will notify you because unprotection of content cannot take place.


Verifying signed content when you don't have the signer's key in your keystore
If someone sends you protected or signed content and you do not have their key in your keystore then ContentAssurity automatically notifies you by displaying a flashing info button on the toolbar with the message text 'New key available for import'.  If you press this button the 'Import Public Key Certificates' dialog will be displayed where you can select the key(s) you want to add to your keystore.  Please see importing keys for further information.


Log File Window

ContentAssurity displays a log of the content you have unprotected/verified in the bottom half of the window as shown below:

Unprotection/Verification Log

See Content History for more information.