The quick summary:
Encrypting a device or node means encrypting all of the data in that node, as a layer on top of any encryption that may be done on individual files. The node to be encrypted needs to run the Encrypt program, and you can use a node while it's encrypted. They're planning to expand on encryption quite a bit in Unwired, though.
Here's the full email conversation, reformatted to be readable and with some stuff not directly related to the question trimmed out.
- What does it mean to encrypt a node or device?
I understand how encrypting data or traffic works in SR4, but I can't find anything that describes what the effects of encrypting a node are. I've asked on the dumpshock forums, and no one there seems to have a clear idea, either.