- Get a certificate signed by a CA: [click here for a free one](http://www.instantssl.com/ssl-certificate-products/free-email-certificate.html),
- open the file,
- delete securely the file,
- use Mail instead of online gmail.
- ???
- Profit
enddiv
I've (re)discovered how to become S/MIME compliant.
I am now suprised how easy it was.
Some years ago it was far more difficult.
Now I'm able to sign and encrypt my emails.
## Why is it important?
Signing: it tell the other with an aboslute certitude the writer of the mail is _you_ or at least used your computer.
Encrypt: because sometimes you need to be 100% sure a conversation remains private.
## How to proceed?
- Get a certificate signed by a CA: [click here to get a free one](http://www.instantssl.com/ssl-certificate-products/free-email-certificate.html),
- open the file,
- empty your trash, put the file in the trash, secure empty trash,
- use Mail instead of online gmail.
Now you should see these icons:
<%= blogimage("sign_icon.png")%>
_n.b._: if you use gmail, you and work not alway with a Mac, you should consider to try the [gmail S/MIME firefox addon](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/592).