How Notes uses public and private keys for encrypting and signing mail

IBM® Lotus Notes® uses a public and private key set to encrypt and decrypt data, as well as to validate digital signatures. The public and private key in a set are mathematically related to each other and are unique to your User ID. Your public key is stored in your Notes® certificate. Your certificate is stored in your User ID and the IBM Lotus® Domino® Directory. Your private key is stored only in your User ID.

People can encrypt data they send you by using the public key from your certificate located in the Domino Directory. When you receive encrypted data, your private key in your User ID decrypts the data.