MobileMe: Setting up and troubleshooting secure iChat
Summary
MobileMe enhances iChat in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard by providing a means for creating secure chat interactions between MobileMe subscribers. In a secure chat, all text, audio, video, or data transferred in the chat is encrypted. To use this safeguard, you and your chat buddy must both have MobileMe memberships and enable Secure Chat.
When both you and your chat buddy have MobileMe Secure iChat enabled and you start a chat, a lock icon appears in the upper-right corner of the iChat window. Text, audio and video are encrypted on your computer, sent across the Internet encrypted, and are not decrypted until they reach your buddy’s computer.
Products Affected
MobileMe, iChat
Setting up MobileMe Secure iChat
If you did not enable Secure iChat the first time you opened iChat after configuring Mac OS X for MobileMe, you can still enable Secure Chat in the iChat preferences:
- Verify that you have configured Mac OS X for MobileMe by selecting opening System Preferences, then clicking MobileMe. Your current account status and storage settings should be displayed if your account is set up correctly. If you need additional assistance setting up your account on your computer, click here.
- If MobileMe is configured, open iChat via the Dock or in the Applications folder.
- From the iChat menu, choose Preferences.
- Click Accounts.
- Click the MobileMe account you want to secure. (If your MobileMe account does not appear in the iChat Accounts Preferences, you can add it by clicking the + icon in the lower left corner of the iChat Accounts preferences and following the onscreen instructions.)
- Click Security.
- Click Enable.
Troubleshooting tips
- Secure iChat works only when your iChat buddy has a MobileMe accounts and has also enabled secure chat.
- If you are trying to have a Secure iChat between a MobileMe Chat account and a .Mac Chat account, both participants need to have Mac OS X v10.5.4 or later and the Mac OS X Software Update for MobileMe installed.
- If you cannot chat via iChat, regardless of whether you are using secure chat or not, you should first troubleshoot your connection to the Internet by verifying other network services, such as Mail and viewing web pages work. If you cannot use other web services, you should troubleshoot your connection to the Internet.
- If you can use other Internet services, but iChat does not work, and you are using a routing or device that provides NAT, you should make sure your device is configured for iChat.
- An easy test to make sure your own settings are configured correctly is to try chatting with other MobileMe members. If you are able to Secure Chat with other buddies, but you can’t secure chat with one specific buddy, then again there is probably an issue with their settings. Make sure the buddy in question has iChat configured for their MobileMe account and Security is enabled.
- If you are unable to Securely Chat with any MobileMe member, you should refresh your Security settings by opening iChat Preferences and the selecting your MobileMe account in the Accounts preferences, then click Disable in the iChat Encryption section of the Accounts Security pane. Quit iChat and reopen it again, and re-enable iChat Encryption again, in the Security section of the iChat Accounts Preferences.
- If you still cannot enable iChat Security, even after refreshing your settings, you may need to use MobileMe Account to revoke a certificate and then create a new Secure iChat Certificate by re-enabling Secure Chat as explained above in Setting Up MobileMe Secure iChat.
- If you are unable to use other secure services, such as the iTunes Store, you receive error messages from other secure websites, and you receive SSL alerts from Mail or any other application relying on secure certificates, you may be experiencing a broader issue with your Keychain or Mac OS X itself which would need to be resolved prior to attempting to use Secure iChat.
If you still have issues after using the above tips, please contact MobileMe Support.
Additional Information
iChat security certificates
MobileMe secures your chat interactions by using security certificates to create signed encryption, which is the same type of technology HTTPS web sites and Secure Email use to establish online identities and enable encryption.
The first time you enable Secure iChat, a MobileMe Secure iChat certificate is generated. Your MobileMe Secure iChat Certificate is valid for one year.
Checking the status of your iChat Certificate
You can find out when your current Secure iChat certificate expires, and also see a list of any revoked or expired certificates.
- In a web browser, go to (http://www.me.com).
- If you're not already logged in to MobileMe, log in.
- Click the Account icon.
- Click Secure Certificates.
To renew your certificate, simply re-enable iChat security for your MobileMe account.
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