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StaticUsers.net – PGP Freeware

June 2, 2001

Information

Privacy means that only the intended recipient of a message can read it. By providing the ability to encrypt messages, PGP provides protection against anyone eavesdropping on the network. Even if the information is intercepted, it is completely unreadable to the snooper. Authentication identifies the origin of the information, certainty that it is authentic, and that it has not been altered. Authentication also provides an extremely valuable tool in network security: verification of the identity of an individual. In addition to secure messaging, PGP also provides secure data storage, enabling …

StaticUsers.net – PGP Freeware

Information

Privacy means that only the intended recipient of a message can read it. By providing the ability to encrypt messages, PGP provides protection against anyone eavesdropping on the network. Even if the information is intercepted, it is completely unreadable to the snooper. Authentication identifies the origin of the information, certainty that it is authentic, and that it has not been altered. Authentication also provides an extremely valuable tool in network security: verification of the identity of an individual. In addition to secure messaging, PGP also provides secure data storage, enabling you to encrypt files stored on your computer. Version 6.5.2 also includes PGPnet – a powerful VPN client which enables secure peer-to-peer IP-based network connections – and Self-Decrypting Archives (SDAs) which allow you to exchange information securely even with those who do not have PGP.

Views

This application makes it possible to create a PGP key and encode/decrypt data. Freeware application makes it possible to enjoy security and encryption for privacy.

Features

1. PGPnet. PGPnet is a landmark product in the history of PGP. PGPnet secures all TCP/IP communications between itself and any other machine running PGPnet. It is also fully interoperable with the Gauntlet GVPN firewall/gateway providing a complete solution for corporate remote access VPNs using the industry standard IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) and IKE (Internet Key Exchange) protocols. PGPnet has been successfully tested with Cisco routers (requires Cisco IOS 12.0(4) or later with IPSec TripleDES Feature Pack), Linux FreeS/WAN, and many others. PGPnet is also the first IPSec product to fully support the use of OpenPGP keys for authentication in addition to X.509.

2. Self-Decrypting Archives. You may now encrypt files or folders into Self-Decrypting Archives (SDA) which can be used by users who do not even have PGP. The archives are completely independent of any application, compressed and protected by PGP’s strong cryptography. Using this feature without a passphrase will also allow you to create compact Self-Extracting Archives (SEA) which are not encrypted. The resulting archives run on both PowerPC and 68K Macs, and are encrypted using CAST.

3. X.509 Certificate and CA Support. PGP is now able to interoperate with the X.509 certificate format. This is the format used by most web browsers for securing the transfer of web pages. PGP supports the request of certificates from Network Associates’ NetTools PKI, VeriSign’s OnSite, and Entrust certificate authorities. X.509 certificates are analogous to a PGP signature, so you can even request X.509 certificates on your existing PGP key. Using PGPnet, this feature can be used to interoperate with existing VPN solutions based on X.509.

4. Automated Freespace Wiping. PGP’s Freespace Wipe feature now allows you to use AppleScript to automate wiping of the freespace on your disks. The AppleScript dictionary for this is located in PGPtools.

5. PGPmenu Improvements. PGPmenu has been entirely rewritten, and sports many new features. Configurable Command Key support allows you to invoke the Encrypt/Sign/Encrypt&Sign/Decrypt&Verify commands in third-party applications without even touching the mouse. The Empty Trash command in the Finder can now be turned into a Wipe Trash command to make sure that everything you throw away gets securely wiped. The cursor now provides animated progress during PGPmenu operations, and more.

6. Outlook Express support and Enhanced Email Integration. As part of the new PGPmenu, Outlook Express and Claris Emailer are now recognized as special applications in which PGPmenu will automatically grab the recipient email addresses whenever you invoke PGPmenu on a new email message window thus cutting out the step of specifying the recipient keys! The old Claris Emailer plugin has been removed now that PGPmenu has direct support for it.

7. Fingerprint Word List. When verifying a PGP public key fingerprint, you can now choose to view the fingerprint as a word list instead of hexadecimal characters. The word list in the fingerprint text box is made up of special authentication words that PGP uses and are carefully selected to be phonetically distinct and easy to understand without phonetic ambiguity.

8. HTTP Proxy Support. If your Macintosh is behind a corporate firewall with an HTTP proxy server, PGP now supports accessing HTTP keyservers through the proxy. To use this feature, you must configure the proxy server address in the Internet control panel. This feature requires the installation of Internet Config for users not running MacOS 8.5 or greater.

9. Smart Word Wrapping. The word wrapping in PGP now automatically rewraps paragraphs and even quoted paragraphs resulting in much cleaner signed messages.

Insecurity

The Lock Screen feature on PGP Freeware 7.0.3 is easily defeated on the iMac by nothing more than a paperclip! Simply insert it into the little force-reboot side hole while in Lock Screen mode and the iMac will reboot, Lock Screen gone. Submitted by johnny_davis.

Also see unplugging the machine and putting in place open firmware password protection.

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