Likewise, if I were to go to work for another company, is there any way
that I could establish the fact that I was still the same person, now
with a different DN?
But you're NOT the same person. That person who worked for that company
erlang.enet.dec.com, who suddenly was no more. Think about the chaos
that someone with a sense of humor, or mischief, could create if John
Gilmore went bankrupt, the name toad.com was sold by the sheriff (it is
just another asset-no?) to the CIA who then started to foment
rebellion. How many guys could they entrap before the ruse was
discovered.
The thing that I dread more, is the use by your company of your private
key component after you have left. What will others think of your
statements then. Should it be legal (or moral) for a company to
continue use of DN's or keying material for recently dismissed
employees? Or what about decrypting messages sent to that employee? It
is certainly common practice for companies to open snailmail sent to
past employees, why not email?
Peace ..Tom Jones