Pgp for beginners

This was made from experience using pgp on a pc running windows for a mac or another os the steps should be about the same only adapt the necessary opening of files and clipboard usage procedures I guess. I am not so savvy on a mac.

Decrypting a pgp message using the clipboard

There are other ways of decrypting a message such as using the plug in features if you have them which makes things so easy. But using the clipboard such as described below is really simple and good for beginners.

1. Select encrypted text ( gobblie gook)  begging at -----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- and ending at -----END PGP MESSAGE-----
2. Copy text
3. Go to lock icon in lower right hand part of your screen and click
4. Go to clipboard
5. Select Decrypt & Verify
6. Enter your password
7. Read the note.

How to send an encrypted e-mail the easy way

Steps

1. Open an e-mail application and type your email
2. Select all the typed text and click cut
3. Click the lock icon in the bottom right of your screen
4. Select clipboard
5. Select encrypt and sign
6. select and drag down the key of the person you are sending the note to click okay
7. Enter your password
8. Return to the e-mail application
9. Right click your mouse and select paste
10. Click send

Importing a key from an attachment

1.  Open the attachment- a key should open up...
2.  click on the import button
3.  click the lock icon in the bottom right hand of your screen
4.  select pgp keys
5.  find the key the at you have just imported- it should be there
6.  right click that key and select sign a box should open on your screen
7.  check the box that says allow your signature to be exported
8.  click ok
9.  enter your password
10.  find that key again and right click and select key properties
11.  move the slider at the bottom of the box from un-trusted to trusted

To import a key using the clipboard simply select the gobbly gook text and decrypt it as you would a normal pgp message using the clipboard and then go through steps 2-11 of importing a key.

That’s it the key is in there congratulations.

These are the basic operations for which most people will use pgp and they pretty much apply to other pgp functions as well such as encrypting and decrypting documents and sending and receiving them as attachments etc. As with anything having to do with a computer play with it until you either crash your system or know how to use it like a pro. Good luck- cheers!

Setting up a key pair in pgp

After installing pgp

Click on the lock icon in the lower right of your screen

Select pgp keys (click)

This will open a dialog box that should be blank

Go to the icon in the dialog box to the furthest left at the top let your arrow hover over it it should say generate new key pair ( click)

Another box will pop up click next

Enter your name in the top space and in the space below it enter your e-mail address

Click next

Now create a password the longer the better but you don’t want to forget or lose it

Type in the password

Confirm the password by retyping it

And you should be good to go

You should now see your key pair in your pgp keys dialog box