[Leaplist] encryption

[Fred Moore]

John Simpson wrote:
> On 2007-10-26, at 2210, Hank Lambert wrote:
>>
>> I think this is a great idea. I have been learning about encryption
>> for the
>> last few months, but the problem is the same as with a lot of computer
>> technology; you can learn the ideas, and memorize the rules, but how
>> does it
>> apply in real life. For example, I know what symmetric and asymmetric
>> encryption is, and I also know what hashes like SHA-1 are, but how do
>> you
>> apply them. How do I really use asymmetric encryption to encrypt an
>> e-mail
>> message, or how do I sign an e-mail message? What are the steps to apply
>> these technologies and use them on a day to day basis? A discussion one
>> night on this with a key signing party would be terrific.
>
> that *is* a good idea. i don't consider myself an expert on this
> stuff, but "advanced user" maybe... i don't know that i feel confident
> enough to give such a presentation, but i'll definitely be the guy in
> the audience asking the tough questions to make the presentation
> better...
>
> as for the day-to-day mechanics of it, the "gpg" program comes with
> most linux distros, and is also available for mac osx and probably
> windoze as well.
>
> under linux, "kmail" (the KDE mail program) knows how to call gpg in
> order to do the common operations (encrypt and/or sign a message
> before sending it, decrypt a message you receive, verify a signature,
> etc.) "mutt" also knows how to do call gpg in order to do these
> things. i'm sure there are other email programs which can do them as
> well.
>
> for OSX, apple's Mail.app doesn't know how to handle gpg directly, but
> there is a third-party plug-in which gives it that ability. he doesn't
> yet have a version for 10.5 (which just came out on friday) but his
> web site (below) says he should have one out in "10 days"... which is
> the only reason the message you're reading right now isn't signed,
> because i'm typing it on my desktop machine which is running the new
> OS already. i used earlier versions of the same plug-in with 10.3 and
> 10.4, and had no problems at all- it worked very smoothly, just a
> checkbox to say "yes i want to sign this message" or "yes i want to
> encrypt this message", and if you encrypt, it has a way to choose
> which keys you're encrypting to (i.e. who can de-crypt it.)
>
> http://www.sente.ch/software/GPGMail/English.lproj/GPGMail.html
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> | John M. Simpson    ---   KG4ZOW   ---    Programmer At Large |
> | http://www.jms1.net/                         <jms1 at jms1.net> |
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> | http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173 |
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
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John perhaps you and I can both do a presentation.. We both have been
using it for a long time..  Thunderbird knows how to use gpg when you
install enigmail.   It works as well  as  kmail. 

-- 
Benjamin Franklin "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either" 
Benjamin Franklin "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety".
 
Fred/WD8KNI