1.7.1 What is PGP?
PGP is a program to securely encrypt email and data using
public-key cryptography. With public-key cryptography, there is no
need for a secure channel with which to exchange keys. In fact, your
public key is supposed to be as widely distributed as
possible. This way, you can communicate securely with people you've
never met. PGP is robust and fast, with sophisticated key management,
digital signatures, and data compression
Words of Warning
We strongly encourage you to read the PGP
Documentation, and to understand the risks involved, before using
PGP to protect sensitive data.
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1.7.2 What versions of PGP are installed?
PGP comes in two basic versions:
- PGP 2.6.2:
- The last release of the 'classic' PGP. GP 2.6.2 was released
free for non-commercial use by MIT, in cooperation with Phil
Zimmerman, the author of PGP. PGP 2.6.x was ported to a very
long list of computer systems. An "International" version
(available outside the US) of PGP 2.6.3 is called 2.6.3i.
- PGP 5.x:
- The current PGP series. It is a product of Network Associates,
who bought PGP, Inc (Phil Zimmerman's company). The major
changes are different encryption schemes (among other reasons,
to avoid patent and copyright issues), and better user
interfaces. PGP 5.x is available for Windows, Macs, and some
flavors of Unix. MIT is distributing PGP 5.0 for Windows and
Macs (but not for Unix) free for non-commercial use. PGP5.0i is
the current default version of PGP on Unix systems.
In addition, the source code to PGP 5.0 was legally exported from the
US in the form of printed books, and scanned by a group of volunteers,
to be the basis for the "international" version of pgp, PGP 5.0i (US
export regulations governing cryptogrpahy have made dealing with PGP
and related programs very difficult. See the comp.security.pgp FAQ
for more information).
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1.7.3 Where is PGP installed?
- On UNIX systems:
PGP is installed in two flavors on Unix. For more information
on the differences, see
What versions of PGP are installed? .
- PGP 5.0i (compiled with the rsaref
cryptographic library) is installed in
/s/pgp50i and
/s/std. PGP 5.0 uses different
programs for different function, instead of in one
pgp program. pgpe,
pgpk, pgps, and
pgpv are in
/s/pgp50i/bin,
/s/pgp/bin, and
/s/std/bin. PGP 5.0i is the currently
supported default version of PGP.
- PGP 2.6.3 is installed in /s/pgp-262
as /s/pgp-262/bin/pgp.
- On Windows NT systems:
PGP 5.0 for Windows NT will be installed in the near future.
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1.7.4 How can I integrate PGP with my mail program?
There are various packages to use PGP with many mail programs. We will
be installing more of them in the future (if you have a specific
request, please send electronic mail to lab@cs.wisc.edu with as much
information about the package as possible).
- On UNIX systems:
- Pine
- The default .pinerc file has support for
PGP 5 in a commented-out section. To enable PGP support in
pine, uncomment the following lines from the default
.pinerc file.
#display-filters=_BEGINNING("-----BEGIN PGP")_ /s/std/bin/pgpv -f
#sending-filters=/s/std/bin/pgpe -fas -r _RECIPIENTS_,
# /s/std/bin/pgps -fat
- Emacs Rmail, Emacs mh-e
- Mailcrypt
is a package for using PGP with the emacs editor. Consult
the Mailcrypt
Manual for instructions on how to configure emacs to
use mailcrypt with with MH-E, VM, Rmail and Gnus.
To use mailcrypt with PGP 5.0, add this to your .emacs
file:
(mc-setversion "5.0")
To use with PGP 2.6.2, add this instead:
(mc-setversion "2.6")
- On Windows NT systems:
In the near future, we will support the use of PGP 5.0 with
Eudora.
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1.7.5 Where can I get someone's PGP Public Key?
If you can, try to get someone's public key directly from them and
verify that it is from them. If not, try the PGP Public Key Server.
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1.7.6 Where can I get more information on PGP?
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