Creating the Key and Encrypting an Email

• 1). Launch the "PGP Desktop" application and select the "PGP Keys Control" box. Press "Ctrl" plus "N" to open the "Key Generation Assistant," then click "Next." Enter your real name and the e-mail addresses associated with your name into the appropriate fields. Click "Next" to go to the "Passphrase Assignment" page, and enter a passphrase to associate with the private key you're creating. This is your private password and should be shared with no one. Click "Next" to begin the key generation process, which can take several minutes, depending on the length of the key you may have specified in the "Advanced Settings." When the process completes, click "Next" and add the public portion of your key pair to the "PGP Global Directory" so that other users of PGP can identify data encrypted by you and decrypt it if allowed.
  
  
• 2). Share your public key with the people with whom you intend to share data. This allows them to send encrypted information to you. To send encrypted information to others, you need their public keys. You can email someone your public key. Select the "PGP Keys Control" box and right-click the key pair you wish to share, then select "Send To" then "Mail Recipient." An email is opened in your email program -- Outlook by default -- that contains your public key. Address the email and send it.
  
  
• 3). Acquire the public keys of those to whom you wish to send data. Public keys can be retrieved from the "PGP Global Directory" or from an email. Ask your data partner to share his key with you. Add his key to your "default keyring" so that you can send him encrypted emails.
  
  
• 4). Open "Microsoft Outlook" and write your email as usual. On the message ribbon above are two buttons -- "Sign" and "Encrypt." Before sending your email, you can sign it, encrypt it or both. If you encrypt your email, you need the recipient's public key in your "default keyring." If an appropriate key is not found, the email will be sent unencrypted, in clear-text. If these buttons are not enabled, open "PGP Desktop" and select "Tools," then "Options." Under the "Messaging" tab, choose "Enable PGP encrypt and sign buttons in Outlook."