Gpg4win

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Gpg4win

Logo Gpg4win.svg
Sc-inst-welcome de.png
Basic data

developer Gpg4win initiative
Publishing year 2006
Current  version 3.1.11
( December 17, 2019 )
operating system Windows (from Windows 7 )
programming language Shell script
category Encryption software
License GNU GPL and other free software licenses
German speaking Yes
www.gpg4win.de

Gpg4win ( G NU P rivacy G uard for Win dows ) is an installation package for Windows to e-mail - and file encryption . Gpg4win enables simple and free encryption and decryption of emails, files and file folders. The integrity and authenticity of the encrypted emails and files can also be checked using digital signatures . The package consists of various program components and a manual.

It was commissioned by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) in 2006 and implemented by Intevation GmbH , g10 Code GmbH and KDAB GmbH & Co. KG . Gpg4win itself and the components contained in Gpg4win are free software .

In November 2019, Gpg4win, Version 3.x and Gpg4KDE were released for the transmission and processing of national classified information up to the level of confidentiality VS-ONLY FOR SERVICE USE (VS-NfD). The combination of GnuPG and KMail is released as a KDE mail program under Linux. The release recommendation applies to the S / MIME and OpenPGP protocols. It is no longer necessary to have an approved smart card to store private keys. Symmetrical encryption is now also possible, i.e. only with a password. GnuPG can replace the Chiasmus software with the approval recommendation. OpenPGP and S / MIME have advantages over Chiasmus . You don't need a separate key for every communication.

Goal, program components and version history

The aim of Gpg4win is to provide an up-to-date Windows installation package for the GnuPG encryption software as well as the associated applications and documentation. The manuals “Einsteiger” and “Durchblicker”, which were maintained in the first version, were merged and comprehensively revised for the second version under the name “Gpg4win Compendium”.

In interaction with GnuPG in version 2.0.x, the use of S / MIME coding has been possible since Gpg4win version 2.0.0 and thus, in addition to OpenPGP, both popular e-mail crypto standards. The Kleopatra certificate manager from KDE is used as a joint application for the management of keys .

There is a building system ("Gpg4win Builder") with which you can easily create new gpg4win.exe installers with updated components yourself. The easiest way to do this is with a Debian -GNU / Linux installation; In this way, almost all software components contained in Gpg4win can be created automatically by cross-compilation for Windows.

With version 2.2.0, the "GpgOL" plugin is now also available for Microsoft Outlook in versions 2010 and 2013. In addition, Gpg4win now officially supports Windows 8 and the Explorer plug-in "GpgEX" also supports 64-bit operating systems.

Gpg4win 2.3.0 was released on November 25, 2015. The “GpgOL” plug-in enables Outlook 2010, 2013 and 2016 to read PGP / MIME and S / MIME emails. Mozilla Thunderbird in combination with Enigmail , GPGMail or KMail send encrypted mails in MIME format by default.

Version 2.3.1 followed on April 5, 2016. Since then, Gpg4win has supported the 64-bit version of Microsoft Outlook.

Version 3.0.0 was released on September 19, 2017. Since then the OpenPGP / MIME standard has been fully supported. In addition, the WKD service was implemented and support for elliptic curve cryptography was implemented.

software

The core of Gpg4win is GnuPG, which is responsible for the cryptographic operations. The following software is also included:

  • " Kleopatra ": A certificate manager for OpenPGP and X.509 (S / MIME); provides uniform user guidance for all crypto dialogues,
  • "GPA": Another certificate manager for OpenPGP and X.509 (S / MIME),
  • "GpgOL": A program extension for Microsoft Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 (both 32 and 64 bit) for email encryption,
  • "GpgEX": A program extension for Microsoft Explorer (file encryption),
  • " Claws Mail ": A complete e-mail program including a program extension for GnuPG and
  • "Gpg4win Compendium": Manual for installing and using Gpg4win as well as an explanation of cryptographic backgrounds.

The Gpg4win initiative was founded in 2006. In contrast to the alternatives at the time, such as the GNU Privacy Project , Gpg4win wanted to make it easier to maintain the product through a better construction system.

documentation

  • Gpg4win Compendium: Documentation on cryptography and Gpg4win2 for beginners and advanced users.

Web links

Wikibooks: The GNU Privacy Guard  - Learning and Teaching Materials

swell

  1. ↑ lists.wald.intevation.org .
  2. ↑ The gpg4win Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages ​​Page . In: Open Hub . (accessed on September 6, 2018).
  3. ↑ Federal Office for Information Security: Gpg4win - Secure e-mail and file encryption ( Memento of the original dated December 8, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (accessed May 15, 2013) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bsi.bund.de
  4. ↑ "Pgp4win can be used for official secrets"
  5. ↑ The Gpg4win Compendium
  6. ↑ Gpg4win 2.2.0 with support for Outlook 2010/2013 and Windows 64bit , Intevation GmbH, (accessed August 21, 2013)
  7. ↑ Emanuel Schütze: [Gpg4win-announce-de] Gpg4win 2.3.0 released. November 25, 2015, accessed November 25, 2015 .
  8. ↑ Jochen Saalfeld: [Gpg4win-announce-de] Gpg4win 2.3.1 released. April 5, 2016, accessed April 27, 2016 .
  9. ↑ Jochen Saalfeld: [Gpg4win-announce-de] Gpg4win 3.0.0 released. September 20, 2016, accessed September 21, 2019 .
  10. ↑ GnuPG is music of the future. June 4, 2006, accessed September 4, 2014 .
  11. ↑ Archived first, preliminary website www.gpg4win.de. January 13, 2006, archived from the original on January 13, 2006 ; Retrieved September 4, 2014 .