Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) is an encryption program used to secure communications and data. Developed by Phil Zimmermann in 1991, PGP uses a combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption to provide confidentiality, authentication, and integrity for digital messages and files. It is widely used for securing email communications, file storage, and other forms of sensitive digital data.

Key Features of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encrypts the content of messages or files so that only the intended recipient can read them, ensuring privacy and protection from eavesdropping. It also allows users to digitally sign their messages, providing authenticity and proof that the message has not been altered, which assures recipients that it comes from the claimed sender.

PGP uses asymmetric encryption, involving two keys: a public key, shared with others, and a private key, which is kept secret. The sender encrypts a message with the recipient's public key, and the recipient decrypts it with their private key. The private key is used to sign messages, while the public key is used to verify the signature. PGP also provides a system for managing these public keys, known as a keyring, which allows users to securely store and exchange public keys.