Unable to Encrypt AIM Instant Messaging - PGP Desktop 10

Products

• Symantec Products

Issue/Introduction

After installing PGP Desktop 10, you are unable to encrypt AIM instant messaging sessions. This article details the requirements for encrypting AIM instant messaging connections.

 

Resolution

This may be caused by the recipient not being on the Buddy List of your instant messaging client. Other reasons may also include an incompatibility with your instant messaging client software.

PGP Desktop automatically encrypts AOL and iChat standard instant messaging sessions, direct connects, and file transfers if the following conditions are met:

 

• Both users in the IM session have PGP Desktop 9.0 or later installed and running on the system on which they are using IM.
• Both users have the Encrypt instant messages setting enabled.

To do this:

 

1. On Windows systems, select Tools > Options.
2. Click the Messaging tab, and select the checkbox to Encrypt AOL Instant Messages (AIM).
3. Click OK.

1. On Mac OS X systems, select PGP > Preferences.
2. Click the Messaging icon, and select the checkbox to Encrypt AOL Instant Messages (AIM).

• Both users are using compatible IM clients.
  
  

  AOL AIM 5.9.x Encryption of file transfers and direct connections requires AOL Instant Messenger 5.9.3702 on Windows (with the Firewall preference set to AOL proxy server only) or Apple iChat 3.1.5 on Mac OS X. Audio and video connections are not encrypted by PGP Desktop. AOL AIM 6.5.5 To encrypt instant messages with AIM 6.5, you must change the default port that AIM uses from 493 to 5190. Audio and video connections are not encrypted by PGP Desktop. Continued interoperability with the AIM service may be affected by changes made to the underlying AIM protocols after PGP Desktop version 9.10 is released Trillian 3.1 (Basic and Pro) The secure IM feature is compatible with any IM client that supports AOL's OSCAR protocol for instant messaging, such as AOL Instant Messenger, Trillian Pro, iChat and Gaim.

  
   
• The AIM address of the initiator of the IM session is on the Buddy List of the recipient of the session (or the session will not be encrypted).

Confirming your IM sessions are encrypted

When you start an IM session, the PGP Notifier is displayed, informing you that a secured IM session has begun.

When the IM session begins, the first message you see from the other user in the session will have extra text below it that says: Conversation encrypted by PGP Desktop.

The padlock icon shown next to the names in the Buddy List indicates that the users are probably using PGP Desktop to secure their IM sessions.

If you open the PGP Log after you have started your IM session, it will have an entry noting that the IM session is encrypted.