Digital Certificates

I just had to go through a quite lengthy procedure for getting a digital certificate thing for my work email. For those not in the know (and to be honest, I bet you know more about this than me), this is a widget that sits in my email and "signs" my mailings as coming from me i.e. to prevent people pretending that they are me sending you a virus (or worse), and also for encrypting messages (cos an email is basically like a postcard in the mail - can be read by anyone).



It's a bit depressing though, I think. Is this a sign of the times? Why can't we all just get along?