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Does anyone have a link to a good, but short (1-2 paragraphs) explanation of the benefits of using GPG/PGP signing and encryption for Email focused at non-technical readers? That is, why would someone care about email being signed?
I've looked but all I ever find are deeply technical, jargon filled documents; perhaps my Google-fu is failing me.
jtimberman
Posted 2009-07-31T03:28:56.780
Reputation: 20 109
28
Why Use PGP? -- probably fits your size.
PGP is useful for two things: 1. Privacy and Security, and 2. Authenticity.
By privacy, I mean that you can prevent people from seeing things. For example, you can encrypt an email to someone, or encrypt a file with a list of passwords.
By Authenticity, I mean that you can ensure a message was sent/written by the person you think it was, and that it wasn't modified by a third party. Of course, these two can be combined.
Would also recommend -- GnuPG FAQ Advanced Topics for a quick read
HowTo and tutorial references afterwards,
Take your pick on a comfortable read.
nik
Posted 2009-07-31T03:28:56.780
Reputation: 50 788
1
Link rot have eaten two of the links, including the first one which now should be http://www.phildev.net/pgp/gpgwhy.html
– Teddy – 2010-03-09T08:26:55.6671@Teddy, thanks for pointing that out. Have updated broken links. – nik – 2010-03-10T02:53:59.373
Nice, first link "Why Use PGP" would have sufficed :-) – jtimberman – 2009-07-31T04:27:49.890
2I think the other one from the same place (GPG Signing) is useful too. – nik – 2009-07-31T04:49:42.790
Its definitely a good followup, feels a bit more technical though. – jtimberman – 2009-07-31T05:51:25.903
@nik Your second link ( ftp://ftp.gnupg.org/gcrypt/gnupg/GnuPG-FAQ.txt ) states that the documentation is outdated. Is the html version http://www.gnupg.org/faq/gnupg-faq.html of that documentation outdated too?
– Pacerier – 2014-02-11T04:36:58.680
12Why was this downvoted? It is a computer related/technical question. – indyK1ng – 2009-07-31T03:45:10.757
1Avoid asking questions that are subjective, argumentative, or require extended discussion. – Richard Hoskins – 2009-07-31T03:48:29.767
8I don't see how it is any of that, and it doesn't require discussion here. – jtimberman – 2009-07-31T03:56:22.280
1You don't see how a question asking for an argument is argumentative? You don't see how asking for two paragraph answers will lead to extended discussions? You don't think the efficacy of PGP signatures and encryption for email is subjective? – Richard Hoskins – 2009-07-31T04:00:50.163
15Jeez, he's just asking for an external reference explaining the pros and cons of signing emails. No need to get your knickers in a twist over it :D – Babu – 2009-07-31T04:08:05.033
1@richard, perhaps jtimberman (and me) aren't familiar with the controversial aspects of this. At any rate, he just asked for a link. – hyperslug – 2009-07-31T04:08:48.433
1My nickers are untwisted, thank you. I downvoted the question, was asked my reasons, and stated them. – Richard Hoskins – 2009-07-31T04:10:21.160
1@richard My apologies. I seem to have misjudged your intended tone from the wording of your response. :) – Babu – 2009-07-31T04:25:04.000
@Babu yup, exactly. I've been doing it myself for a couple years, and know the technical reasons, how to, etc etc. Want to explain to our nontechnical folks via link, so its from an 'objective' source :). – jtimberman – 2009-07-31T13:38:15.507