Simple e-mail encryption.

Hi,

I want to exchange private e-mail with someone who might find gpg etc. a bit
of a hand full to use.

Can anyone suggest a freeware encryption program or plug-in that will give
at least the illusion of security, and that is most importantly easy to
set-up and use?

Regards,
Murray R. Van Luyn.

 

I've found PGP to be quite easy for newcomers to use - assuming they are
using Outlook or OE it integrates quite nicely, or grab a couple of free
certificates for encrypting your email.

If my ex. can handle it then most people can I think.

 

Hi Marty,

I'm curious. Is there some way I can use boring old Outlook Express to
encrypt e-mail with security certificates (?)? Oh look, there's a whole
section in the help file. I wonder who I might see about digital IDs ? I'll
have to have a look for a better description of how to go about all of this.

Thanks very much for the tip Martin.

Regards,
Murray R. Van Luyn.

 

Just an idea...

Put your messages inside a Word document and save it with a password
that you have agreed offline. Microsoft Word offers different
passwords strengths for you to choose from.

Perhaps someone can comment on how good that encryption is?

 

errr, Martin

yeah, I just used VNC (and installed the certs on their PCs) to make
sure we could ship encrypted emails - I was going to Saudi for 3 months
and really did not want my emails beeing looked at

http://www.thawte.com/

goto "products" and select "free email certificate"

........
<assumption>
If she's as bad as you think, then make sure you do the cert install for
her
</assumption>

I had all my mates (and 'friends') using PGP as well, it's not that hard
with MS s/w and even 10 years ago when you had to cut-n-paste it was ok
for even blondes - if they were shown - do this, do that, copy, paste,
send.

Ha We fooled the Saudi's!

 

Hi Marty,

Thanks for the link to Thawte. I'm sure they can help.

No, not air-headed. Just very hard working, and from a very young age -
hasn't had a lot of time for a lot of other things. I can understand what
your saying, though. I've got this sis....

See ya,
Murray R. Van Luyn.

 

Hi Speeder,

Oh! I didn't know Word could do that. Thanks, that might be an easy answer.

Regards,
Murray R. Van Luyn.

 

....

Of course it is likely that the use of encryption in Saudi Arabia is
illegal. Ie, had they wanted to get you, they would have had a ready made
excuse.

 

I've heard the encryption is worthless. Allegedly, opening it in
OpenOffice.org is enough...

If you want the illusion of security, look up ROT13. ;-)

And please don't top-post.

Joachim

 

Hi Joachim,

Thanks for the advice regarding Word document security.

I learnt something new about posting too

Regards,
Murray R. Van Luyn

 

I use a program called Blowfish for simple text encrypton.

http://www.lassekolb.info/bfacs.htm

It's freeware, powerful, and has a lot of features.

Beachcomber

 

I use Thunderbird (email Client) and Enigmail (Plugin for Thunderbird).
It's easy and works with gnupg (opensource)

Andreas

 

Thanks everyone for the links and advice.

I had a go at e-mail security certificates, but that ended up as a bit of a
train wreck very quickly. I think Blowfish seems to offer the right level of
useability. Security really isn't that big a deal, but it seems to offer
'enough'. It depends how you use it, I guess. The hard disk data wiping
facilities might help with my occasional bouts of 'perfectly normal'
paranoia, too.

Gee, I'd love to know how you guy's manage to post anonymously. I could find
a really sneaky use for that under the reasonably harmless 'action and
adventure' category.

Thanks again everyone.

Regards,
Murray R. Van Luyn.

 

Don't worry about my interest in e-mailing anonymously. It seems it's well
documented on the web, and also that someone's already figured out what I
was up to. Thanks anyway.

Regards,
Murray R. Van Luyn.

 

This, of course, was the point where Murray took a pseudonym, and followed
others example too. Gee, I'm glad you're friendly. The $AUD50's not for you.
You're worth a lot more.

Regards,
Murray R. Van Luyn.