ID of computer: Your computer has a ten digit identifier. So does every other computer
that uses the Pryvit program. In order to get information that has been privatized on another computer, you need to
enter the identifier number of that computer in the boxes here -- 3 digits, 3 digits, then four digits (just like a
North American telephone number). The identifier of that computer may be published at a web site, or it may be given
to you by somebody else in your organization. Computer identifier numbers do not need to be kept secret. Sharing
them is okay.
Description of request: This space lets you enter any note that will be helpful to
the person who is to share information with you. It might be your name, or your department, or a subscription number,
or whatever.
Choose and confirm a password: Only you will ever know the password that you enter
here. That's good news and bad news. It means that someone else using your computer cannot open up a privacy archive
that is meant for you; that's good. But if you lose the password, that's bad, because no-one else can give it to you.
Of course, you can always send another request.
Save request as a text file: A request is actually a small text file. You need to give
the file a name, and select a place (directory) on your computer to house that file. If you include no suffix at the
end of the file name, the program will add ".ASK" to show what kind of file it is.
Your return e-mail address: Request files are small, and are meant to be kept secret.
If the person(s) at the other end decide to send the information you want, they will pass along a file to you,
perhaps by e-mail. That answer will be a disguised reconstitution file that can be opened by your computer only.
So long as your request file is kept secret, it is okay to use e-mail for sending the reconstitution file to
you.
Click the OK button after you have filled in all the fields above. NOTE: Think
twice about how you handle the tiny request file. It should be kept as secret as possible. The ideal way is
to hand it directly to the person who is going to give you access to information. A second best way is to
privatize the request in some way, such as copying and pasting it into a form at the other party's secure web
site. In worst case, use e-mail; this method is suitable only for information that is not particularly
sensitive.
As always, the Cancel button takes you back to the main program without holding
on to any of the information that you have entered above.
