Frequently Asked Questions

What are the fields, links, and other elements on a Registered Envelope?

Registered Envelopes can include the following elements:


• Date and time stamp. Displays the date and time when the encrypted message was sent.
• Help link. View information about opening Registered Envelopes.
• From field. Displays the email address of the sender.
• To field. View or select the email address of the recipient. If your address is not shown, click the "Select a different address" link.
• Password field. Enter your Cisco Registered Envelope Service password. Leave this field blank if you do not have an account.
• Forgot password? link. See What happens if I forget my password?
• Personal Security Phrase (or More Info link). See What is a Personal Security Phrase?
• "Remember me on this computer" check box. See What is the "Remember me on this computer" option?
• Open button. Open the Registered Envelope to view the encrypted message.
• Register button. Access the Cisco Registered Envelope Service website to create a user account.
• Submit button. Submit a change to the envelope — for example, after you select an address in the To field.
• Refresh button. Reload the envelope in the browser window.
• "Select a different address" link. Enable a drop-down menu in the To field to select a different address.
• "My address is not listed" link. View information about selecting your address in the To field.
• Open Online link. See Tips for Opening Envelopes.

Why do I have to register to open a Registered Envelope?

Registered Envelopes are password-protected. When you register, you create the password that you use to open the Registered Envelopes that you receive.

Note - When you register, you create a user account for a single email address. If you have multiple email addresses, you need to register each address separately.

Which password do I enter on a Registered Envelope?

The first time you receive a Registered Envelope, you are asked to register with Cisco Registered Envelope Service to create a free user account. Use the password that you create during registration to open all Registered Envelopes that you receive.

What happens if I forget my password?

If you forget your password, click the “Forgot password” link on a Registered Envelope to reset your password. Cisco Registered Envelope Service will send a New Password message to the email address associated with your account.

If you have specified security questions for your account, the New Password message contains a link to your security questions. Answer the questions to access the Create New Password page. Choose a new password, and use that password to log in to your account.

Note — If you fail to correctly answer the security questions on five consecutive attempts, you will be locked out of your account for one hour. If you have not specified security questions for your account, the New Password message contains a link to the Create New Password page. Choose a new password, and use that password to log in to your account. When you log in, you will be prompted to specify security questions for your account (unless you have configured Cisco Registered Envelope Service to bypass security questions when resetting passwords in your user profile).

What is the file that is attached to the notification email message, and is it safe to open that file?

The attached file contains the encrypted message that you have received. It also includes the information necessary to decrypt the message after your password has been verified.

To read the encrypted message, complete the following steps:

1. Double-click the encrypted message file attachment to download the file to your computer.
2. Select whether to open the file or save it to your hard drive. Opening the file displays the attachment in a new browser window.
3. If the message is password-protected, enter your password to open it. If you need to create an account, follow the links on the envelope to do so.
4. When you are finished reading the attached file, close the browser window.

To protect your computer from viruses, it is recommended that you install an antivirus software program from a reputable company, and use the program to scan all email attachments. Download files only from known senders. If you have questions about the validity of the message, contact the sender before opening an attachment.

What is a Personal Security Phrase?

A Personal Security Phrase helps protects you from password phishing threats. When you register with Cisco Registered Envelope Service, you specify a short Personal Security Phrase that is known only to you and the service. The Personal Security Phrase appears on Registered Envelopes that you receive. The phrase appears when you click the password field. If you do not see your Personal Security Phrase, click the link for more information.

How can I find previous messages that I have sent?

For security reasons we don't store any messages sent through CRES but if you need a copy of a message you send you can select the Automatically BCC Myself option or use the BCC field. You can also see recipient information, lock or expire the messages you have previously sent via "Manage Messages".