Jennifer Glick wrote: > Updated Security spec based on having a security Toolbar button in Mail > Compose. The Toolbar security icon seems the best way to go since it > makes the feature more discoverable without disturbing the attachment > area. > > http://www.mozilla.org/mailnews/specs/security/
I have one additional concern. You might think it is too paranoid, but I want to speak it out at least once. Suppose I'm a keyboard user and have hidden the toolbar, as I won't use it anyway. So I won't see any of the icons on the send button. I would prefer to see clearly within the compose window what encryption mode is currently configured for this message. You can argue that the default can be configured to "always encrypt", but I want to warn that a default setting could be changed by a colleague or a child who has access to the computer. If I compose a message, I would not necessarily recognize that the default has been changed. I am at risk, if I expect the setting to be "always encrypt", but someone changed the setting to "if possible". If I can't risk to send accidentially unencrypted, it would be a great help to have the configured setting always clearly visible, without any extra clicks or keystrokes required. I think the setting should be displayed within the message attribute area. If someone changed the default, I would see it immediately when I open the compose window and look into that area for the first time, because I have to look at that area anyway. The lock icon in the status bar is no help for that, because: - First, I don't look at the status bar area often, as there is nothing to configure. I already have two areas two look at when composing a message, the upper atribute area and the text area, and I might forget to look at that third area on the status bar. - And second, if I saw a closed lock in the status bar once, I might remember that state and feel safe, not recognizing that it changes to unlocked as I add more receipients, and not being warned on send as the default is unexpectedly set to "if possible". If no visible information is given inside the compose window, I must either remember to open the menu once for every message, to look up the configured setting, or remember to look at the status bar icon just before finally sending the mail. I fear I could forget to do that. For example, I see it often that people mention in the mail that they are including an attachment, but then actually send the mail without attaching it. My suggestion to solve this problem elimates the need for the security toolbar button. I suggest to add two dropdown lists to the upper message attribute area. I suggest to take some space away from the "From" dropdown list. This space is rather long. We could add two small additional dropdown lists behind it. These dropdown lists would not display any text, they would just display an icon each. When clicked on the first icon, a dropdown list could open that displays icons for all possible encryption settings. The second icon with another icon dropdown list could indicate the signing setting. Which icons could be shown? For the encryption setting I suggest: - Use a postcard icon in black/white for the "Send in Clear" setting. - Use a postcard icon with a question mark for the "Encrypt if possible" setting. - Use a letter icon with a colorful lock for the "Force Encryption" setting. For the signature icon, I suggest: - Use a pen or a seal for the "Sign" setting. - Use blank space or a question mark for the "Do Not Sign" setting. Kai
