PGP uses a standard public key encryption scheme, wherein it uses encoding and decoding algorithms to create a public key and a private key. The public key is used by other people to encrypt messages that they send to you, and the private key is used by you to decrypt messages that were encrypted with your public key.

You can find an article explaining in details how PGP works here - http://users.ece.cmu.edu/~adrian/630-f04/PGP-intro.html


The wiki for PGP is available here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy



If you need information on how to setup PGP with your Email, here are some articles that will help you. Please note we do not recommend or suggest any one product over the other. These links are purely a place for you to start your research for a product that best suits your needs.


PGP Desktop Home: http://www.pgp.com/products/packages/desktop_pro/

Company: Symantec (USA)

Price: $99 USD / 91€

OS: Win 2000, XP, Vista & 7 - 32-bit and 64-bit for Vista and 7, others 32-bitOutlook: XP, 2003, 2007 - Express and others also supported (not a plugin)

Support: PGP/MIME, OpenPGP, S/MIME, X509 v3Algorithms: AES 256-bit, CAST, TripleDES, IDEA, Twofish

Notes: Difficult to use, not a plugin, but a proxy style encryption/decryption software the sits between the mail client and the server. Industry standard and one of the few with enterprise level support available.


GPG4Win: http://www.gpg4win.org/

Company: Gpg4win project

Price: free

OS: Win 2000, XP, Vista & 7 - 32-bit version available (works under 64-bit)Outlook: 2003, 2007 (plugin type)

Support: PGP/MIME, OpenPGP, S/MIME, X509Algorithms: 3DES, CAST5, Blowfish, AES up to 256-bit, Twofish, Camellia up to 256-bit

Notes: Perhaps the most hacky and geeky. Has extensive documentation, but not perhaps the first recommendation for newcomers to encrypted mail.


cGeep Pro: http://www.cgeep.com/features.html

Company: SafeLogic (Germany)

Price: 70€

OS: Win 2000, XP, Vista & 7 - 32-bit version available (works under 64-bit)Outlook: 2000, XP, 2003, 2007 & separate version for Outlook 2010 (both plugin type)

Support: OpenPGP Algorithms: Blowfish, AES 128/192256, CAST, 3DES, up to 4096-bit RSA keys

Notes: Perhaps the easiest interface for beginners to learn & use


EnigMail:  https://www.enigmail.net/home/index.php

Company: EnigMail

Price: free

OS: Works with Windows or Mac using Thunderbird as an Email client

Support: OpenPGP Algorithms: Blowfish, AES 128/192256, CAST, 3DES

Notes: This is the simplest install for beginners and advanced users alike - friendly interface. A screen by screen install instructions are available here https://www.wefightcensorship.org/article/sending-encrypted-emails-using-thunderbird-and-pgphtml.html


GPGMail V2.1: https://gpgtools.org/

Company: GPGTools

Price: free

OS:  Mac using Mac Mail

Support: OpenPGP Algorithms: Blowfish, AES 128/192256, 3DES

Notes: The best solution for MAC users


If any errors are found regarding compatibility or OS support please let us know.