If you need to find a free solution to encrypt file or email, Gpg4win (GNU Privacy Guard for Windows) may be more than enough encryption than what you need. It is a free software and pretty straightforward to install. Before you can use it though, you need to create a key pair first and this may be confusing to beginners. Here are the steps to generate a key pair in GPG4Win Kleopatra:
Launch Kleopatra and click on New Key Pair.
Type in your name and email. Although it’s optional it’s important that you fill that in as your email will be used as the identity to verify your signature.
Click on the Advanced Settings….
Select ECDSA/EdDSA. For starters you can leave the defaults, then click OK.
There’s a whole range of debates between using RSA vs ECDSA and you can check some of the included links at the bottom of this post. The short version is, use ECDSA when you can, use RSA if you have concern with compatibility.
Click on the Next button, then click-on Create.
On the next windows, you’ll be asked to type in a passphrase. Don’t leave this blank. Use a good passphrase by checking the quality bar as your guide. Then click OK.
When a key pair successfully created, you will see the following window with your Fingerprint. Make sure you Make a Backup Of Your Key Pair before clicking Finish.
Once this process completed, you can export your public key and give it to anyone who needs to send you an encrypted message or file and you’re ready to communicate securely.
Download
Further Reading
ECDSA: The digital signature algorithm of a better internet
SSH key-type, RSA, DSA, ECDSA. Which to choose?
Good day. in Kleopatra, under tools / Clipboard / my choice for certificate import is greyed out… I am completely lost at how to send a message using someone else’s public key….PLEASE HELP
David,
I assume you’ve already imported the person’s public key first?