What PGP Desktop is and How it Works

PGP Desktop 9.9 secures email by way of encrypting and signing messages with keypairs so that no one but the intended recipient can read the email. In addition to that can PGP Desktop 9.9 be used to protect sensitive information stored on local disks and removable storage, including, for instance, external hard drives and USB flash disks, with the result that only legitimate users can access the data. Furthermore can PGP Desktop 9.9 be utilized for storage and management of protected files on shared space such as a file server for example. On top of that does PGP Desktop 9.9 include encrypted and self-decrypting archives, and a shredder capable of permanently deleting files so that they are unrecoverable by any means.

PGP Desktop 9.9 ships in various editions and the flagship corporate bundle comprises central management plus the features explained below:

· Secure Messaging

· Whole Disk Encryption

· Virtual Disk volumes

· NetShare

· PGP Zip

· Self-Decrypting Archives

· PGP Shredder

PGP Desktop Email automatically encrypts, signs, decrypts, and verifies emails sent and received. This achieved through PGP’s email proxy functionality, services, default configurations known as policies and the use of public/private keypairs. It works a treat!

PGP Desktop Email, sometimes referred to as PGP Secure Messaging because it also protects some instant messaging apllications, is explained in detail in my article ‘How to encrypt emails with PGP Desktop Email’ which you can find by following this link along keypairs put in a nutshell.

PGP Whole Disk Encryption (PGP WDE) encrypts entire hard disks or partitions on notebook and desktop computers no matter whether they are local or attached by means of USB for example. PGP WDE Encryption/Decryption is a background process which does not interfere with user experience; however it may take a while depending on disk size and CPU power. Once this usually one-time task has been done there is hardly any processing overhead, and files and folders look and feel as usual. Dual-boot systems are supported whereas RAID is not.

PGP WDE authentication can be configured to passphrase upon computer boot with or without snapping into Windows (Single Sign-on) as well as to token or smart card authentication. Additionally, a USB token or trusted platform module can be used together with the passphrase. This is called two-factor authentication: something you know and something you have. What’s more, removable disks can be secured by public/private key pairs ideal for non-secure means of transport.

Virtual disks in PGP refer to portions of a hard drive set aside for securing data by means of encryption regardless whether the disk is on-board or locally attached. As opposed to Whole Disk Encryption secures PGP Virtual Disk only what’s stored inside or installed into the special file space. Like a safe in a house can PGP Virtual disks be locked and unlocked on the fly without interfering with other parts of the computer or user experience. PGP Virtual disks works on FAT, FAT32 and NTFS formatted disks and partitions.

Read on on the next page. There is much more you want to know!