TECH: PGP encryption - anyone use it?

Subject: TECH: PHP encryption - anyone use it?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 06:14 PM

Paul

I've been playing around with a few cryptographical programs today.

I personally have no need for it, as I'd have no problem with anyone reading any of my emails - it's mostly 'postcard' stuff

Curious to know if anyone encrypts personal messages on a regular basis?

Paul

Subject: RE: TECH: PHP encryption - anyone use it?
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 06:22 PM

If you're going to make a typo, make it in the title so that everyone can see your ineptitude...

I, of course, meant PGP *blush*

Paul

Subject: RE: TECH: PHP encryption - anyone use it?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 06:31 PM

Well I downloaded and installed PGP Win the other day to satisfy my curiosity. I now blue screens reporting errors in vxd's when I load my firewall and internet sharing programs - sometimes trying to load them even causes the PC to reboot. Haven't got round to fixing it yet. Not much help I know but that was my expeirence with PGP.

Jon

Subject: RE: TECH: PHP encryption - anyone use it?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 07:04 PM

It's been a while since I've used PGP but as I recall, installing PGP Win also installs PGPNet which, I think, works as a virtual private network (VPN) between participants. PGPNet wants to occupy the same layers on the IP stack that a personal firewall wants to occupy. The firewall I use is also not compatible with PGPNet.

I think if all you want to do is sign and encrypt documents and email, you can do that without running PGPNet. You just type your message into a text editor, sign and or encrypt it using PGP and send it off. As I recall, there is a hook into Outlook Express that lets you sign and or encrypt directly from the mail window.

Other than installing the program and trying it out, I haven't really used it much. Although with Dubya and his Dad's cronies in power in the U.S., it may become (may already be) our only alternative for private communication should the need ever arise.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: TECH: PHP encryption - anyone use it?
From: Mr Red
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 08:34 PM

Mark Clark
a lot of e-mail facilities were out (or inaccessable from UK at the same time as the Mudcat was down, Yahoo & joymail notably. What does that say about interception s/w in the aftermath of 9/11?
I haven't heard any explanation.
My ISP and domain holder e-mails me ad nauseum & crows incessantly about competitors downtime and did they say a dickie since they were out for 4 days?

Subject: RE: TECH: PHP encryption - anyone use it?
From: GUEST,DaveRo
Date: 10 Dec 14 - 07:38 AM

I tried to use email encryption some years ago - not pgp (or gpg) but s/mime. I was involved with Thawte's 'Web of Trust' which verified identities so that cetificates could have trusted names. The problem then, and it's probably worse now, was that fewer and fewer people were using email clients that supported it; webmail was becoming the dominant method of reading and sending email and there were no webmail systems that supported it. I don't know about email apps on phones and tablets; my Android email client supports s/mime but I'm not sure my keys are secure on it.

To be convenient for non-geeks encryption needs to be built into the email client. Several clients support s/mime and for gpg and there is the enigmail addon for Thunderbird. But I suspect most do not.

I do use gpg, though not for messaging. For example I have a password file on this Android device which is symmetrically encrypted with gpg. Works under any operating system. Even iOS!