E-Mail Security

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Revision as of 17:15, 16 December 2024 by AMessner (talk | contribs) (Created page with "== Summary == Description what this documentation is about. == Transport Layer Security (TLS) == TLS is a cryptographic protocol that secures communications over a network by providing confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It is commonly used to secure connections between a client and a server, as well as between servers. === Confidentiality === * Data is encrypted during transit to ensure it cannot be intercepted and read. * TLS uses asymmetric encryption...")
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Summary

Description what this documentation is about.

Transport Layer Security (TLS)

TLS is a cryptographic protocol that secures communications over a network by providing confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It is commonly used to secure connections between a client and a server, as well as between servers.

Confidentiality

  • Data is encrypted during transit to ensure it cannot be intercepted and read.
  • TLS uses asymmetric encryption during the handshake phase to securely exchange a symmetric session key, which is then used for fast and efficient encryption of the data.

Integrity

  • Message Authentication Codes (MACs) ensure that any modification of the transmitted data is detected.

Authentication

  • TLS uses digital certificates issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs) to confirm the identity of the communicating parties.
  • The server presents its certificate to the client during the handshake phase to prove its legitimacy.
  • Optionally, mutual authentication can occur, where the client also provides its certificate.

How TLS operates

TLS operates in two stages:

  1. TLS Handshake Protocol
  • This phase negotiates security parameters, including the cryptographic algorithms to be used (cipher suites).
  • The server sends its certificate to the client, which verifies the certificate against trusted CAs.
  • Optional client authentication can occur here if needed.
  • A session key, that will be used as a symmetric key, is exchanged using encrypted key-exchange.
  • MACs ensure that data integrity is preserved.
  1. TLS Record Protocol
  • After the handshake, the Record Protocol manages the symmetric encrypted transmission of data.
  • Data is encrypted using the session key established during the handshake.
  • MACs ensure that data integrity is preserved.

Limitations

  • In-Transit Only: TLS protects emails only during transmission. Once the email reaches the server or the recipient's device, the content is unencrypted and stored as plain text unless additional encryption is used.
  • Intermediary MTAs: The sender cannot enforce TLS on intermediary Mail Transfer Agents (MTAs). Some MTAs may not support TLS, leaving messages vulnerable during transit.

OpenPGP

Confidentiality

Integrity

Authentication

Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME)

Confidentiality

Integrity

Authentication

Step 1

Enter these commands in the shell

echo foo
echo bar

Step 2

Make sure to read

  • War and Peace
  • Lord of the Rings
  • The Baroque Cycle

Used Hardware

Device to be used with this documentation Maybe another device to be used with this documentation

Courses

References