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Echelon & PGP FAQ.

Frances Farmer

20:36 / 26.06.01

Anybody who read the recent series on Echelon :

I'd like to follow it up with a Barbe-Crypto-FAQ, with a serious emphasis on PGP.

I'm sure lots of folks aren't familiar with PGP ; So, starting with folks who aren't, a FAQ is obviously a listing of 'Frequently Asked Questions', and their corresponding answers.

Anybody got questions for me? I'd prefer not to make my own up, as that's a bit, eh, contrived, or something.

Anybody? Anybody? You send the questions, I'll write the answers.. Or find them, or whatever it takes.

Ellis

20:48 / 26.06.01

Most obvious question first:

What is PGP ?

Lothar Tuppan

09:08 / 27.06.01

Pretty Good Privacy.

It's the most available encryption protocol available for consumer online use.

Heh... you're just throwing out questions for the FAQ aren't you?

heh. Sorry.

[ 27-06-2001: Message edited by: Lothar Tuppan ]

MJ-12

11:59 / 27.06.01

prolly a good place to start

index of FAQs relating to PGP
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/pgp-faq/

Frances Farmer

13:47 / 27.06.01

I was aware that there are FAQs out there already, but I'm endeavouring to offer something more focused to the needs of the readers, writers, and posters involved in the Underground. As mentioned above, PGP is a public, freely available encryption method. Many think highly of it, and supposedly, the NSA hasn't got key-escrow for it, although that's debated.

Questions, any, all? They don't need to be pointed and technical questions. Anything that pops into your head is fine - And I'll start with "What is PGP?".

grant

15:18 / 27.06.01

Do I need to be a tech-head to know how to use PGP?

(or...)

What do I need to do to use PGP?

Are you really sure no one can read PGP-encrypted mail?

What does the government say about Echelon?

What DOESN'T Echelon monitor?

Frances Farmer

16:25 / 27.06.01

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

All going on the list. A million honey-coated thank-yous to our wonderful grant!

Perfect Tommy

18:56 / 27.06.01

"Can you use PGP with web-based email like hotmail?"

"I've heard that encryption is best if everything is encrypted, not just the sensitive material... is it automated so you can encrypt everything without hassle?"

Not sure how to put the last one... "How do I get my friends to use it if they're not techheads (so more emails are encrypted)?" Or something.

Imaginary Mongoose Solutions

01:58 / 28.06.01

"I read a lot of email on my Palm OS device. Can I use PGP there?"

"Isn't it hard to keep track of your password or key thingy?"

"My friends don't want to use it because they're not good with computers. How easy is PGP?"

"Can PGP used for anything else? Like securing documents on your PC?"

And just for all the Barbe-Lovers out there in Magick-land: "Does PGP have any Magickal uses?"

[ 28-06-2001: Message edited by: kevin ]

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