configurare software :: pgp end to end encryption for email

PGP, also known as Pretty Good Privacy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy is a 27 years old encryption algorithm.

 

The system is simple. A user have 2 keys (like 2 passwords): a public key that is used to encrypt things and a private key that is used to decrypt things. So, if a user gives away his public key to anyone, then anyone can encrypt things sent to that user. The user, keeping hidden his private key and using it, is the sole person able to decrypt those things.

 

Such, PGP is used, amongst other things, for a system called end-to-end email encryption. The system goes like this:

• Alice has a computer, on which she runs an email client (Outlook, Thunderbird) and generates a pair of keys, public and private.
• Bob has a computer, on which he runs an email client (Outlook, Thunderbird) and generates a pair of keys, public and private.
• Alice send to Bob her public key, Alice keeps her private key hidden, stored safely
• Bob send to Alice his public key, Bob keeps his private key hidden, stored safely
• Alice send to Bob an email message, encrypted with Bob’s public key that she has.
• Only Bob, on his own computer, where he installed the private key is able to read the message Alice sent

 

Alice and Bob can use different email clients (Thunderbird, Outlook, Mac Mail, a.s.o.) with the requirement that it supports PGP.

 

PGP setup for Microsoft Outlook HOWTO:

https://www.itkb.ro/userfiles/file/PGP email encryption using Microsoft Outlook email client.pdf

 

PGP setup for Thunderbird HOWTO:

https://www.itkb.ro/userfiles/file/PGP email encryption using Thunderbird email client.pdf