WATRD

WATRD's PGP/GPG Key

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: GnuPG v2.0.12 (MingW32)
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=DVBk
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

Key in .asc format

How to get started:

For most folks, the easiest way to get started is to download Gnu Privacy Guard for Windows, along with one of the graphical front ends for it, make a key pair of their own, then start sending encrypted messages. It's pretty much that easy. Currently, I recommend you start here: http://www.gpg4win.org/ which is the homepage for "Gnu Privacy Guard for Windows". GPG4WIN combines GPG, the freeware alternative to PGP and an easy to use front end that allows you to manage keys and do encryption in Windows, without having to drop to a command line.

It's pretty straight forward. Download it, install it, create a private and public key for your use, download my key, then encrypt something for me and mail it to me. That's all there is to it and our correspondance is completely private that way. Try it out. You might like the privacy of not having your mail readable by anyone along the way who chooses to have a look.

I will look forward to getting secure communications from you. Just make sure you send me your public key, so I can write back!

Otherwise, read on for more information...

Where to get "PGP":

First, see the above paragraph, GPG4WIN is by far the easiest way to get started... otherwise:

Click here for Gnu Privacy Guard - Freeware!

And here for GPGShell, a GUI front end that makes it more useable

Finally, the links below will give you some background, others freeware options, as well as paid versions.

What is PGP?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy

http://www.andrebacard.com/pgp.html

http://world.std.com/~franl/crypto.html

http://www.pgp.com/

http://www.pgp.com/downloads/freeware/

http://www.pgpi.org/

General Thoughts on Encryption Software

While I am a big fan of using PGP (GPG in this case), especially for encrypting correspondance, let's face it, it's more than a lot of people need on a regular basis. And, it's still got a learning curve associated with it. If you don't need military grade encryption and just want to protect a file you are sending to a friend or if you want to protect/hide a file, few files, there are other tools that can be easier/quicker to use.

Below are a few examples of the tools I use, please note that all are FREE for your use:

PGP/GPG: For PGP/GPG, hands down, I like GPG4Win. (http://www.gpg4win.org/) It's easy to use, it installs/uninstalls cleanly, it contains just the right tool set and it contains the GPG bits, so there's just one install. If you would like to have a look, go to the webiste I linked to for more details. This toolset is perfect for encrypting mail, text, files, etc. that you want to use in correspondance and it can be used to encrypt files that you want to keep from prying eyes. There's some learning curve, but most folks master the concepts of the tools and public tool cryptography pretty quickly.

AxCrypt: This application allows you to encrypt files for other AxCrypt users, but perhaps more importantly, you can create self decrypting files for non AxCrypt users. Want to encrypt something for Grandma, but don't want to teach her how to to use encryption? Use AxCrypt to encrypt the file as an executable, mail it to her, then call her and tell her the password. She can run it and it will unencrypt itself. AxCrypt also adds some easy to use, right click context menus, so you can encrypt something, just by right clicking on it. I am now using AxCrypt for pretty much everything I was using Omziff for before.

TrueCrypt: This tool is GREAT for creating an encrypted, virtual drive on your machine where you can hide multiple files. Because it encrypts and decrypts on the fly, you use the virtual drive just like any other drive, moving files on and off of it. But when you unmount the drive, everything on it is secured. You can take the file that contains your stuff with you, or leave it on the local machine and open it as a virtual drive using TrueCrypt at any time. For example, You can have the file mounted as a drive, say "Drive: X" while you are using it and it will appear just like any other drive on your system, visible in Windows Explorer and usable just the same way, then when you are done for the day, just unmount the drive and your stuff is safe and secure. That file can even be on a thumb drive or other portable media, so you can take it with you. Even more cool is that the file that becomes your virtual drive can have any extension. So, a file on your machine that appears as "resume.doc" or "boringmovie.iso" really contains a mountable virtual drive with your important stuff on it. You can also create duress proof hidden drives and much more. This is GREAT software that I use every day. Have a look. Visit TrueCrypt at their site here: http://www.truecrypt.org/ . Finally, here's a portable version you can use from your thumb drive: Click Here

KeePass: Need a safe place to keep all those passwords? KeePass is just the ticket. It's easy to organize your passwords and other personal information, then store it in an encrypted file that only KeePass can open. One password to rule them all... You can keep KeePass and the file on a thumb-drive if you like and always have your master list with you, safe from prying eyes.

Omziff: To easily password encrypt a file for safe keeping or to encrypt a file with a password to send to someone, you can't beat Omziff. It's straight forward to use and even the most novice user can encrypt a file to a password for safekeeping or for mailing. Just encypt the file, mail it, then call the person with the encryption method and the password so they know how to decrypt it. (They will need Omziff as well). Otherwise, encrypt some files and put them away for safe keeping. As long as you can remember the password and the encryption type you used, you will be able to open the files later. For the version I am currently using, Click Here. Note: I am not using Omziff much anymore... I have replaced most of it's functionality with AxCrypt. (see above)

I look forward to hearing from you, encrypted, of course... ;)

-Rob