This book is about a software package called Pretty Good Privacy, or PGP, which has become the worldwide de facto standard for email encryption. This book explains how to use PGP, but it also gives a brief introduction to the politics and technology of cryptography in general and to public key cryptography in particular. PGP source code is available in print in the companion book "PGP source code and internals" by the same author, Philip R. Zimmermann. The Official Pgp User's Guide Is The User's Manual For Pgp (pretty Good Privacy) Public-key Cryptography Software, Freely Available Over The Internet, That Has Become The De Facto Standard For The Encryption Of Electronic Mail And Data. Pgp And Its Author, Philip Zimmermann, Are The Focus Of National And International Debates Concerning This New, Powerful Envelope That Allows Individuals The Same Privacy In Communications As Enjoyed By Governments And Large Corporations. Because Cryptographic Software Is Considered Munitions By The U.s. Government, And Is Thus Subject To The Same Export Restrictions As Tanks And Submarines, The Worldwide Distribution Of Pgp Over The Internet Has Raised A Host Of Issues That Are Addressed In The User's Guide. In Addition To Technical Details, The User's Guide Contains Valuable Insights Into The Social Engineering Behind The Software Engineering And Into The Legal, Ethical, And Political Issues That Have Surrounded Pgp Since Its Initial Release. Foreword: A Pretty Bad Problem / John Perry Barlow -- 1. Why Do You Need Pgp? -- 2. How Public Key Cryptography Works -- 3. Installing Pgp -- 4. Using Pgp -- 5. Managing Keys -- 6. Advanced Topics -- 7. Beware Of Snake Oil -- 8. Useful Details -- 9. Setting Configuration Parameters -- 10. A Peek Under The Hood -- 11. Vulnerabilities -- 12. Legal Issues -- 13. Compatibility With Previous And Future Versions Of Pgp -- 14. Sources Of Information On Pgp -- Appendix: Pgp Quick Reference. Philip Zimmermann. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Official PGP User's Guide is the user's manual for PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) public-key cryptography software (v.2.6), freely available over the Internet, that has become the de facto standard for the encryption of electronic mail and data. PGP and its author Philip Zimmermann are the focus of national and international debates concerning this new, powerful "envelope" that allows individuals the same privacy in communications as enjoyed by governments and large corporations. Because cryptography is considered a munition by the U.S. government and is thus subject to the same export restrictions as tanks and submarines, the worldwide distribution of PGP over the Internet has raised a host of issues that are addressed in the User's Guide . In addition to technical details, the User's Guide contains valuable insights into the social engineering behind the software engineering and into the legal, ethical, and political issues that have surrounded PGP since its initial release.
