


The first of these is the PGP encryption package Gpg4win, which is an installation for Windows that comes with the Gnu Privacy Guard (GPG) and some additional components.

In order to run PGP smoothly and with the least risk to your privacy and security, we will combine several different pieces of software. This tutorial has screenshots and directions for every step of the way, making it easy to install, set up and use PGP encryption. If you would prefer to dive straight in and start communicating securely, then stick around. Why should you use Gpg4win, Thunderbird & Enigmail together?.Sending and receiving PGP encrypted emails on Windows.The manual includes screenshots and plenty of illustrations, which serve to make it more inviting. There is a large section entitled “For Novices” that explains how Gpg4win works, discusses what a passphrase is and how to create a good one, and covers other essential topics. The Gpg4win Compendium is a comprehensive and enlightening text explaining the ins and outs of the encryption system. One of the most important components in the Gpg4win suite is a manual, not an application. Signing a file requires not only your key but also your passphrase, which makes it possible for other parties to know that it was really you who encrypted the file or email message. Once you do this, you’ll notice two new context menu entries, one of which says “Sign and encrypt” the other is a menu with lots of other GnuPG-related options. Thanks to GpgEX, encrypting a file is as easy as right-clicking it. This is a shell extension for Windows (32-bit only at this point). Once you’re all set up with a key pair, you can begin encrypting files. Kleopatra and Claws Mail feel a bit more modern, but don’t expect anything approaching the sleek interface of recent Google Chrome and Microsoft Office versions. Grey is the dominant color, along with large flat buttons, sharp corners, and beveled edges. If you feel nostalgia for the UI aesthetic of the late 90s, you’re going to love GPA’s look and feel. The only odd point in the wizard is that it asks if you’d like to back up your key before you even have a key. The wizard provided for this is quite user friendly, takes just a few simple steps, and even alerts you if your passphrase seems too short. Once you launch GPA, it offers to generate a key pair for your use.

The only thing that hints this might be a good place to get started is that the Gpg4win installer places GPA outside All Programs, at the point in the Start menu reserved for recently installed applications. The first utility you’ll need is the GNU Privacy Assistant, labeled as “GPA” on the Start menu.
