How To Encrypt Email with PGP
Intro to PGP

PGP stands for Pretty Good Privacy. It uses a public/private key exchange process to encrypt messages or files. It's main use is for email encryption. To be effective, PGP should be used for every email. If you only used PGP to encrypt your secrets, everyone will know which messages are important. Using PGP only when you think you need it is like tagging your email with a big red flag that says "Try to crack me, I'm important". However, if you use it for all your messages, everything will look the same and Echelon/NSA/FBI/[anyone who wants to] won't know your every word.

For more information visit the International PGP Homepage: http://www.pgpi.org/


next >>

Step 1: Download
Choose your Operating System:

The rest of this tutorial demonstrates a Windows install: next >>

Step 2: Install
Install Screen 1: Just Click "Next"
Install Screen 2: Click "Yes"
Install Screen 3: Just Click "Next"
Install Screen 4: Enter Name and Company Info (whatever)
Install Screen 5: Just Click "Next" or select a different installation path.
If you don't know, just click "Next".
Install Screen 6: Select necessary components.
You will most likely only need the Required component.
You can leave all others unchecked.
Click "Next"
Install Screen 7: Just Click "Next"
Install Screen 8: Program will istall. Just wait :)
Install Screen 9: Click "Yes"
Install Screen 10: Leave checked. Click "Finish"

Next: Generating a Keypair >>

Step 3: Generate Keypair
KeyGen Screen 1: Read this and click "Next"
KeyGen Screen 2: Enter Full name and Email address.
click "Next"
KeyGen Screen 3: Select the size of your key.
The bigger the safer. If your paranoid, choose "custom" and type 4096.
Click "Next"
KeyGen Screen 4: You probably don't want your key to expire.
If you aren't sure, just click "Next"
KeyGen Screen 5: Enter a passphrase twice. The longer your phrase, the more secure your key will be. If you like, you can type a whole paragraph or chapter but DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPHRASE.
KeyGen Screen 6: As you type the "Passphrase Quality bar will increase.
If your key doesn't fill this up all the way, think about choosing a different key.
Remember, dictionary words are useless as passwords; they won't last 5 minutes under attack.
Click "Next"
KeyGen Screen 7: PGP will generate the keypair.
KeyGen Screen 8: Click "Next"
KeyGen Screen 9: Click "Finish"
KeyGen Screen 10: PGP will open your Keyring so that you may see your keys.
You may delete all the keys but your own. These are just keys for the creators and testers.
Keep your Keyring open and go to the next section.

Next: Export Your Public Key >>

Step 4: Export Key
Export 1: Right Click on your Key (it should have your name and email) and select "Export" (left click)
Export 2: A prompt will popup, asking where you would like to save your keyfile.
Save it to your desktop. DO NOT "Include Private Key", unless you know what you are doing.
Export 3: You should now have an Icon like this one on your desktop (it will be named with your name).
Export 4: Right click on this file and select (left click) "Open With...".
Export 5: An Open With window will apear.
Select Notepad.
Click "OK".
Export 6: This is your public key!
You can paste this as your signature in your emails or just send it to all of your friends.
People will be able to find this key on the public server you uploaded it to, as well.
You may also just give people this file and they can treat it like a text file.

Next: Backup Your Keyrings >>

Step 5: Backup Keys
Finish 1: When you try to close the keyring for the first time, PGP will prompt you with this message box.
Click "Save Backup Now"
Finish 2: PGP will prompt you to save your Public and Secret Keyrings seperately.
You will want to store these in a safe, secure place.
If someone gets hold of your Secret Keyring, it's all over--with that, they can break your codes.
Finish 3: You should now have backup files that resemble these.

Next: Import a Public Key >>

Step 6: Import Key

Sometimes when you go to a site or get an email, you may see something that looks like one of these:

GPG (winpt)PGP (PGPfreeware)
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32)
Comment: GnuPT 2.7.2
Comment: Generated by WinPT 0.10.1

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=v7H3
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use 

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=bO+k
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Import 1: PGP, creates a padlock icon in your system tray. It should be running now.
If not, select "PGPtray" from your start menu.
Import 2: Make sure the page containing the key is active (if your unsure, left click on the page containing the key--this activates it).
Right click on the padlock icon.
Import 3: Select "Current Window" then select (left click on) "Decrypt & Verify".
Import 4: PGP should try to read the data and come up with a window like this one.
Click "Import".
If PGP cannot find any PGP data, try to select the key and copy it to your clipboard. Then try the last step, choosing "Clipboard" then "Decrypt & Verify".

Next: Encrypt a Message >>

Step 7: Encrypt a Message
Encrypt 1. Type your message in whatever editor you wish.
Be sure the window is active and, again, right click on the padlock icon.
Choose "Current Window", then left click on "Encrypt & Sign"
Encrypt 2. A window will appear with the keys in your keyring.
Select the recipients of your message.
Click "OK"
These are the only people who will be able to decode it. (it's sometimes a good idea to put yourself in there)
Note: You can only encrypt messages to people with PGP keys--tell all your friends.
Encrypt 3. PGP will prompt you for a passphrase.
Type the passphrase of your signing key.
Click "OK".
Encrypt 4. After PGP encrypts your message, it will look like this.
Now just copy this text and paste it in an email.
Send it to the person you encrypted it for and your done.

Next: Decrypt a Message >>

Step 8: Decrypt a Message
Decrypt 1. When you recieve an encrypted message, right click the padlock icon and select "Current Window" then left click on "Decrypt & Verify".
Decrypt 2. PGP will identify the people able to decrypt the message.
Enter the passphrase for your key.
Decrypt 3. Once PGP decrypts the message a window will appear with the plaintext. Read and enjoy.

Next: End >>

Congratulations, You can use PGP!

Now, tell all your friends about PGP and get them to use it. And remember, kids, encryption is only as good as it's weakest link.

For more information visit the International PGP Homepage: http://www.pgpi.org/