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identrust.com
Using a Digital Certificate in Apple Mail®
to Digitally Sign and Encrypt Emails
If you have a digital certificate, you can use it to digitally sign and encrypt emails. IdenTrust digital
certificates that can be used for this application include:
• DoD ECA certificates
• IdenTrust TrustID® certificates
• IdenTrust Global Common (IGC) certificates
• GSA ACES certificates (which can only be used to digitally sign emails)
These instructions assume that you have already installed a digital certificate on a Microsoft®
Windows® computer using Internet Explorer (IE) and that you want to use that certificate with Apple
Mail on the same computer.
There are three (3) general steps:
1. Export the certificate from the browser.
2. Install in OS X.
3. Use your IdenTrust digital certificate with Apple Mail.
The specific instructions are as follows:
1. Export the Certificate from the Browser
Please note that you will need to have backed up your certificate to a file beforehand. If you need
assistance with that process, please see our instructions on How to Export a Certificate When
Using Microsoft Windows OS.
2. Install the Certificate in OS X
• Double-click the file downloaded in the “Certificate Manager” directory.
• OS X Keychain Access will prompt you for the certificate passphrase.
Please note that if this is a token-based certificate, you will simply install the previously supplied
software, then plug in your device; this will automatically make the certificate accessible across
your Mac.
The digital certificate will be installed on your Mac and will be in the “My Certificates” section
of “Keychain Access”. The digital certificate is now available for Apple Mail, Outlook and other
applications that can use client certificates.