What is the OpenPGP Protocol?

The OpenPGP protocol is a widely used standard for secure communication, specifically for email encryption and signing. It is an open-source implementation of the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) standard, and it provides end-to-end encryption for emails and files. OpenPGP utilizes public-key cryptography to ensure that messages are only read by the intended recipient.

OpenPGP makes use of several encryption algorithms to secure the data being transmitted. The most widely used encryption algorithm is the RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman) algorithm. RSA is a public-key encryption algorithm that is widely used for secure data transmission. It is based on the mathematical problem of factoring large numbers, and it works by generating a public and private key pair. The public key is used for encrypting messages, while the private key is used for decrypting messages.

Another encryption algorithm used by OpenPGP is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). AES is a symmetric-key encryption algorithm that is used to protect sensitive data. It works by using a key to encrypt and decrypt data. The key used for encryption is the same as the one used for decryption, making it a symmetric-key algorithm.

OpenPGP also utilizes SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) for generating message digests. SHA is a cryptographic hash function that generates a fixed-size output based on the input data. It is used to ensure the integrity of the data being transmitted, and it provides a mechanism for detecting any unauthorized modifications to the data.

Overall, the OpenPGP protocol and its encryption algorithms provide a high level of security for email and file transmission. The use of public-key cryptography ensures that messages are only read by the intended recipient, while the encryption algorithms ensure that the data being transmitted is protected from unauthorized access.

For a useful implementation of OpenPGP for Windows desktop encryption and add-in for Outlook email encryption, look into Encryptomatic OpenPGP. It's free for personal and non-profit use, and affordable and supported for business use.  Learn more at the Encryptomatic OpenPGP website.

Related: How to create an OpenPGP key pair?

Why Encryptomatic OpenPGP is Arguably Best OpenPGP Tool for Businesses on the Windows Platform

As a business, it is important to keep your confidential information and data secure from prying eyes. This is where the OpenPGP protocol comes into play, as it provides a secure way of encrypting and decrypting emails and files. There are several OpenPGP tools available in the market, but Encryptomatic OpenPGP is arguably the best OpenPGP tool for Windows because of their longevity, support, ease of use, and accessibility. 

User-Friendly Interface

Encryptomatic OpenPGP is designed with a user-friendly interface, making it easy for even the most novice users to encrypt and decrypt their files and emails. The software is easy to navigate, and the encryption process is simple and straightforward. The user interface is intuitive and makes the process of encrypting and decrypting files and emails a breeze.

Compatibility with Multiple Email Clients

Encryptomatic OpenPGP email encryption add-in for Outlook is compatible with other OpenPGP implementations on major email clients, including Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, and others. This means that you can use Encryptomatic OpenPGP to encrypt and decrypt your emails across various email clients. This is a huge plus for businesses that use multiple email clients to communicate with their clients and customers. 

Encryptomatic OpenPGP is also a desktop encryption application, allowing easy "right click" encryption of Windows files and folders.

Advanced Encryption Capabilities

Encryptomatic OpenPGP offers advanced encryption capabilities, including the use of RSA and AES encryption algorithms. RSA encryption is the most widely used public-key encryption algorithm, while AES encryption is a symmetric-key encryption algorithm that is used to protect sensitive data. The combination of these two encryption algorithms ensures that your confidential information is protected from unauthorized access.

Secure Key Management

Encryptomatic OpenPGP has a secure key management system that allows you to manage your keys with ease. The software allows you to generate your own keys, import existing keys, and revoke keys if necessary. This ensures that your keys are secure and that only authorized personnel have access to them.

Excellent Customer Support

Encryptomatic OpenPGP offers excellent customer support to its users. The company has a dedicated team of professionals who are available to assist you with any issues that you may encounter while using the software. The customer support team is knowledgeable and responsive, ensuring that you receive prompt assistance whenever you need it.

Affordable Pricing

Encryptomatic OpenPGP is free for individuals and non-profit organizations. For commercial use, it's very affordable at $29.99 annually, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes. Businesses can make use of a free trial, which allows them to test the software before committing to a paid plan. 

Conclusion

Considering the above, Encryptomatic OpenPGP could be the best OpenPGP tool for Windows, offering a user-friendly interface, compatibility with multiple email clients, advanced encryption capabilities, secure key management, excellent customer support, and affordable pricing. If you want to keep your confidential information and data secure, then Encryptomatic OpenPGP is the tool for you.

Download Encryptomatic OpenPGP free.

How to Send an OpenPGP Encrypted Email from Microsoft Outlook

Encryptomatic OpenPGP add-in brings strong public key encryption to the Microsoft Outlook menu system. If you have need to send OpenPGP messages from Outlook, give us a try.  You can download the latest version from our website.

Encryptomatic OpenPGP works with Outlook 365/2021/2019/2016/2013/2010.

After installing Encryptomatic OpenPGP, start Outlook.  You will be prompted to create a key pair.  If you're unsure exactly which settings to use, use our defaults.   A private key and a public key will be created.

You can share your public key with the world. Others will use your public key to encrypt their messages to you.  Through the magic of math and prime numbers, only your private key will be able to decipher a message that has been encrypted with your public key. That's why it is so important to keep your private key private! Do not share your private key with anyone, or they will able to open all messages sent to you and can fake your identity to others.

Public key = share with the world

Private key = keep it secret!

To send an encrypted message, you will need to have the recipient's public key.  And they will need to have your public key to send to you.  An easy way to get started is to just send your public key to anyone you want to communicate with through OpenPGP. 

If someone sends you their public key, you can copy it and import it into the Encryptomatic OpenPGP keyring from your clipboard. Go to Key Management > Key Import > ...From Clipboard.

When you have a recipient's private key in your keyring, create a new email message.  

Click the "Encrypt" button in the Outlook toolbar, and then send the message.

Encrypt button in MS Outlook

Your email will be encrypted using the recipient's public key.  Only the recipient will be able to decipher the message.  

Encryptomatic OpenPGP is free for personal use, and for those who are working at a non-profit organization to do good work for the world.  Its affordable for everyone else!  Give it a try, and let us know how we can improve it.

Setting Domain and Address Rules for OpenPGP Email Signing and Encryption.

Encryptomatic OpenPGP add-in works with Microsoft Outlook to encrypt and/or sign your email messages.  Encrypting Outlook emails protects them from being read by anyone but the recipient.  Signing an email protects your message from being tampered with.

Buttons in Outlook message to Encrypt or Sign an email message.

When you open a new email messages, Encryptomatic OpenPGP will be part of the Outlook menu.  To sign an email message, click the "Sign" button before sending the message.   To encrypt the email message entirely, click the "Encrypt" button.

Yes, it is possible to both encrypt and sign an Outlook email message. As you would expect, just select both buttons, and then send your email.

Automatically Encrypting or Signing Outlook Emails

You can establish default rules for Encryptomatic OpenPGP for encrypting and signing emails. The rules can be based either on a domain, or a specific email.  Setting up a rule takes just a moment.

First, click the Encryptomatic OpenPGP  "Options" button, and go to the "Rules" tab.

Set rules for encrypting or signing Outlook emails

To add a default rule to encrypt and sign all emails we send to bob@encryptomatic.com, type the email address in the Rules Setting, check the boxes for Encrypt and Sign, then click "Add New Rule".

The rule has now been added to the list of rules.  Save and Close to exit.

Now when ever you send to bob@encryptomatic.com,  the message will be signed and encrypted.

Please note that Encryptomatic OpenPGP's rules are a backup, helping if should forget to select the Encrypt and Sign buttons.  Its best to develop the habit of remembering to encrypt and sign messages.

If you have any questions, please post them below!

OpenPGP Email Encryption for Microsoft Outlook

Encryptomatic OpenPGP brings strong OpenPGP email encryption to Microsoft Office Outlook. It integrates tightly with the Microsoft Outlook 365/2019/2016/2013/2010 menu system, making it easy to encrypt and/or sign an email message.

From the Outlook main menu, you can  easily access Key Management features, as well as tweak how Encryptomatic OpenPGP works by adjusting the user options.

Encryptomatic OpenPGP in the Outlook main menu.

 To send an encrypted message from Outlook, first open a new email message.  Compose your message, then click the "Encrypt" and/or the "Sign" buttons in the message toolbar, and send.

Activate OpenPGP email encryption from any Outlook new email message.

Sending a message requires having the recipient's public key.  Encryptomatic OpenPGP uses the recipient's public key to encrypt the message. Sometimes you may want to send to someone whose public key has not yet been stored by Encryptomatic OpenPGP. If that happens, Encryptomatic OpenPGP will let you know, and will offer to check well known public key servers to locate the recipients key.  

Support is included for public OpenPGP key servers.

When the public key for the recipient is found, the email will be encrypted and sent, and a confirmation message will be displayed.

Encrypted message sent.

The recipient will receive a message in their email inbox that is unintelligible until it has been decrypted. It may look something like this:

Encrypted email message in inbox.

The recipient may use any OpenPGP compatible software and their private key to access the email message.  Usually, the private key is protected with a password.  Typically the way it works in email clients is that the recipient double clicks on the encrypted email message, types a password, and the email message is then displayed.

Decrypted email message in Microsoft Outlook.

When Encryptomatic OpenPGP decrypts a message, it displays whether a valid signature has been detected.  A valid signature means that the message has not changed since the sender sent it.  "Valid Signature" only appears in messages where the sender has "Signed" the message.  Not all messages are signed. Unsigned messages display an "Invalid Signature" message. Why is this? Because Encryptomatic OpenPGP is unable to determine whether the message has been tampered with unless the message is signed. 

Note that it is possible to sign a message without encrypting it. Its also possible to encrypt a message without signing it.  The best practice is to both sign and encrypt a message.

Download Encryptomatic OpenPGP for Windows and MS Outlook, and start protecting your email messages today.

Requires Windows 10, MS Outlook 365/2019/2016/2013/2010