OS2 World.Com Forum

Subject  :  Are you using PGP or GPG?
Author  :  Kim
Date  :  30 Mar, 2006 on 08:49
You might (hopefully) notice that there is a running poll asking if you're using PGP or GPG. But, if you're not, why is so? Is it to complicated or do you just don't have the need for it? Or would you like to use it if you got a bit more info why and how you should use this kind of tool to secure and encrypt or sign e-mails?

/Kim


Subject  :  Re:Are you using PGP or GPG?
Author  :  Stuart srtgray@clara.net
Date  :  30 Mar, 2006 on 09:48
I've never really seen the need, also doesn't the person at the other end need some information about the encryption? I suppose I don't know enough about it. No one has ever sent me encrypted emails....

Stuart


Subject  :  Re:Are you using PGP or GPG?
Author  :  Kim
Date  :  30 Mar, 2006 on 10:11
To use either PGP or GPG (recommend GPG since this offers full support for Thunderbird among other) you need to create a secret and a public key. The secret key is what you keep on your client and the public key is what you ask other to use to be able to send encrypted mails to you. As well you can also sign e-mails with a "finger print" and by this other users can verify that the mail really are sent by you and that it's spoofed.

As well GPG can also be used to encrypt files on your hard drive or as well encrypt files that you send via e-mail.

You might seen that there are couple of bounties for security tokens such as smartcard reader for OS2. Reason for this is that if you're are using more than one system you might want to use the same encryption key on all system. So you need to take you key along. This can either be done by using diskettes, cd-rom, USB memory or smartcards. The good thing about using smart card is that the key itself is protected so if you drop the card there is nothing much to worry about since (usually) 3 bad pin code attempts the card locks up. On the other hand if you have the card on a USB-memory and you loose this you're don't have the same protection.

Smartcards solution are also used for single sign login; you have a card reader and pin code / password to unlock a system and where applications rights then follow the card.

So there are lots of reason why one would like to use encryption, either to protect privacy and your communication. Might be that you don't have anything to hide; but your identity can still be spoofed on the internet by using mail.

/Kim


Subject  :  Re:Are you using PGP or GPG?
Author  :  Tomas
Date  :  30 Mar, 2006 on 15:30

Kim (30 Mar, 2006 08:49):
You might (hopefully) notice that there is a running poll asking if you're using PGP or GPG. But, if you're not, why is so? Is it to complicated or do you just don't have the need for it? Or would you like to use it if you got a bit more info why and how you should use this kind of tool to secure and encrypt or sign e-mails?

/Kim


No, Kim. Ididn't notice. And yes, I found it to complicate and also didn't find any instructions on how to use it.
Thomas


Subject  :  Re:Are you using PGP or GPG?
Author  :  Talldad talldad@kepl.com.au
Date  :  03 Apr, 2006 on 13:38
Hi all.

Following a notice in VoiceNews, I am responding to the poll and on this forum.

I too have looked at security as too hard to implement well - especially with keeping updates current - and decided cost/benefit analysis failed to show enough benefit.

---
Best Regards
John Angelico
OS/2 SIG
Melbourne PC User Group


Powered by UltraBoard 2000 <www.ub2k.com>