Extending messaging security using PGP encryption

You can extend messaging security for the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution and permit a BlackBerry device user to send and receive PGP protected email messages and PGP protected PIN messages on a BlackBerry device. The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution supports the OpenPGP format and PGP/MIME format on the BlackBerry device.

To extend messaging security, you must instruct the BlackBerry device user to install the PGP Support Package for BlackBerry smartphones on the BlackBerry device and to transfer the PGP private key of the BlackBerry device user to the BlackBerry device. The BlackBerry device user can use the PGP private key to digitally sign, encrypt, and send PGP protected messages from the BlackBerry device. If a BlackBerry device user does not install the PGP Support Package for BlackBerry smartphones, the BlackBerry device displays an error message when the BlackBerry device user tries to open PGP protected messages.

To require the BlackBerry device user to use PGP encryption when forwarding or replying to messages, you can configure the PGP Force Digital Signature IT policy rule and the PGP Force Encrypted Messages IT policy rule.

The PGP Support Package for BlackBerry smartphones is designed to support encoding and decoding Unicode messages and permits PGP encryption using keys or passwords. The PGP Support Package for BlackBerry smartphones permits the BlackBerry device to encrypt PGP protected email messages or PGP protected PIN messages using a password that the sender and recipient both know.

For more information about the OpenPGP format, see RFC 2440. For more information about the PGP/MIME format, see RFC 3156.