GnuPG is a completely free implementation of the Open PGP standard defined in RFC2440.txt. The folks at Gpg4win made an excellent Windows port that allows you to use the standard in almost any way imaginable. This particular article will explain how to use gpg4win with the intention of encrypting email communications. The steps mentioned here work with Microsoft's Office Outlook 2003 in or out of an Exchange Server environment, and any other Window's based email client.
First, download Gpg4Win. I chose the light installation because the German documentation and command line tools weren't desired.
Second, install gpg4win with all the available components except Claws Mail, unless you're interested in an email client.
Third, open WinPT (typically located at: C:\Program Files\GNU\GnuPG\WinPT.exe) and begin the key generation process. Supply the information requested (name, email, key password, etc) and make sure the check box indicating RSA keys are preferred is checked. WinPT will begin generating a random key which you'll use to decrypt incoming encrypted messages. Create backup of this key to prevent losing encrypted information in the event of hardware/software failure. If for some you lose this key, all encrypted contents will remain encrypted, forever.
Fourth, well, that's it. If you'd like to communicate with a friend or total stranger, simply obtain and import their public key into your key manager. For example, my public key is:
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) mQGiBEcOi98RBADtH/j6iq4bMAenHbYQc26KekulbvLl+X1hvJVfMpuL2qhRtzuX ngHIz0Oft9mDEdnGNcNwaCfvizyoWDIB7m2wvZI8jiwxKHn+0mWnHI5x6FllG5os op3gZbyDj5NVntfXHwcdK2Z18mWM3Rt2nli80nu1Bq3W6DzQoYJyxngDvwCgzsZl teqkLZ/fKV8Nxk437m1uRb8D/R0S/aaX4UywqNpG/hTIKzCkl2XdyGAhW+Yw6M4c 2ySbmnYa0bMXh/9jnGjcDmchH13IUbXsw0Eurb4jLHrsSjcdHMEVSzkLn/gd1EGF CItmZXMm5b/L0yK/ksgsI7pbBflEYk1eVe2dPRyuCv36YXuZUb+q7rrGle4Fq1Gy t4knA/0Ypu4m5/LHuy43tw3OoI1NDlELR1CcMTELGMRkpOzYEyUe8Ry+P3Tivc3A u+88ZKVrh+apw7AiNvv50Te01wNRdutmbnXSym1BkgCqnH2D+M4oZ6/YsYD9/GU2 w8DM2Z5Ge7rSckpG422r9qG4g9BnBmWtCccQ8Nd492ssFefJOLQoR3V5IFBhdHRl cnNvbiA8cGF0dGVyc29uQG51bGxhbWF0aXguY29tPohjBBMRAgAjAhsDBgsJCAcD AgQVAggDBBYCAwECHgECF4AFAkcOlBACGQEACgkQhIPM3IlhXB6ivwCbBlQFLZwa ve/SXB9Qtwnf1uwd/QEAoLSwcQ0+vFlwNZmnZy2SA9ZiBAOAtBtqMHduZWQgPGow d25lZEBjb21jYXN0Lm5ldD6ISQQwEQIACQUCSAXuBwIdIAAKCRCEg8zciWFcHoVo AJ9QONE13YRtzL85HMjaC4il7GMAowCgnwcu/08pZIH/KLyp/+F1pO1/gvWIYAQT EQIAIAUCRw6TwAIbAwYLCQgHAwIEFQIIAwQWAgMBAh4BAheAAAoJEISDzNyJYVwe XkgAoJIp7PS4KLtrR6T6lIzZpKobYCvCAJ99igWOGF28c5IXLXJIhrMlaW/MwrkB DQRHDovfAQgAymFs7EG8493D7hPnogh6r0Cuc081Ewd6WRWMFgCm7Agx/OMaBHJR RKCmPzML/q7jF91fouzo5nO/QkTM1yQ04z6gnVnuHhJuxz7HnpkI+kKhecjr3S58 zY3/tTvbDubfpzvUcjeXbof4y0QPzlfJyRpzCBLx+FW4J43dpCCDoi/8zOTIIj+K XyOYdm7XDNFdvKaqNMGmzODAh69mD53AooVZ/2Zecvz9tUxPj5pNre/7hnYgNEdh 2yjgogMj+C58w71shU8AZDwC+b+POKxcbCVY91HpAj3wB7PJ3DnBN1GR2lVVZhyD OEFCW3TVXTEXm9DUyp0je9Kfk3PWZnF+FQARAQABiQFoBBgRAgAJBQJHDovfAhsu ASkJEISDzNyJYVwewF0gBBkBAgAGBQJHDovfAAoJEMLX50JovmoJkJkIAK4cVSHT iyjbb2OHzdlLBmEp7ro17eixTVMJSpit7h0/0nFqEFrtA1nEE6dedHZ8eCpobzMK mv7A7jsG3JseunHiC8DG4gF5n2PrDVgpRkvhmT5Oby6kBn8xMRoqK5ii6drYafWo /GxOrBpbOtCAF9f0Q3VJM6h+L6tFR2CZ6DaUOJrpYdZzhFGCJPsm2ewhsgXe3ZCM zNcTjxzBZPvYz1+RnwpbCISp9ulVjSk9OreBBziX3RuVeQ/cy9ezIndW4TRqmiSy dkOkPDSpD+MMCrJTe8GiG0QHAKZjoP27xMdFtwSmLePT8MGITdbPFzClJR/PCxBi KK/5HaroL5/YG9OqEQCeI7bxXR3mg/8J8M3WpWga1Q15IegAnRMJzzu3yEaiR3NN Xi/iZfy9jLPM =UTan -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Importing this key into your key manager will allow you, or anyone else with this key, to send me an encrypted email. Now that your friend's public key is listed in the key manager, compose an email message like you normally would. Before sending the message, and with WinPT running, press ALT+SHIFT+E. WinPT will ask you to select a key (your friend's/recipient imported key) and then encrypt the contents with that key. Your email will now look similar to:
-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) - WinPT 1.2.0 hQIOA5VtOgNCCJZfEAf+KU1PfmZTQvOA8Z5ws0hxoraJDE2WZsFGwO4XmAwEjAnc hLHcgo9m+8J9s05r1WDth7JzaqJDh/AGtX7UWNVqHKjvZ6RurgHC7//vmKHGV2m+ yWe5UkFM5wVsuJa+A+O8G+7LrzgRteQ27T2F5goagFkMQTvXYG8PPBwvdKYpTHfG T3BgLQSXfiCCawagfhcQVd5DZGEr3RxtOv68bqkIRxWma9rnnWfpRMK1GCdekbcx BIS9lPkYPuedlGXQIJXPuezTILUq7A0nYsR2VhAUEW3/JIlW+z7xPWJItBJrDgFh W5D/3w3sdt+SVcF5GSFyqBpKx0CkcSxaacW436K80wf+Oyh/3TWuianXtfuinPo3 MMmq+cVnpNIpKl/gklLP5De8eTm+Lr9Z1nLAH4ZqiO1GmmXp31rysieR4GY5Chta 0c235TlLcYs9yxQA3L4QtuOZlQbpJsGUnK5ylTatAYmCLyjD0sqFz9m8oWsnUvm2 b/zuaR46IHvWxGd9qkJ9mW+k2SNAgo7HdMWDwsQnq538XjQYLKeoev8Fz5PhZFGW MMFUkxzZAXXGfQlKo1OneQDQw4QBDT7yDJmCKBqrFK57F1QKhzId0c6r3XHAkmP+ oGeXl4mmtItlHpKV2EKLu87I3xnFA1KjCh22RNdDlpOaibxRRgY7j70NF6D5t9ih RNI+AZGNWc+Jm5pnQ8JOwcUAzywlNaT7QAYGNlHUXwtZ2wnVn824PZ4ZZlY+UfnD ADgvoHFFRLNeZVRfqNvJcSM= =Yvea -----END PGP MESSAGE-----
Now, send the email. The contents are safe and only readable by the intended recipient, assuming the public key came from a reliable source, and the feds haven't confiscated the workstation housing the recipients secret/private key.
If you'd like the recipient to have the ability to respond back encrypted, simply send them your public key. They'll encrypt an email using your public key, and when it arrives in your inbox, press ALT+SHIFT+D while WinPT is running. Type in your key password, and viola! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section.
Word Count: 875
Tags: Encryption, GPG, software, tools, Windows XP
winpt.exe file is not find inside the path ("C:\Program Files\GNU\GnuPG\")
please help...