Step 6: Extras: Symmetric encryption and hotkey commands

WinPT also supports an option called symmetric encryption, which does not use keys, but simply uses a passphrase to encrypt and decrypt messages. As long as the other party knows the passphrase, they can perform the decryption without a problem. Symmetric encryption is useful for one-shot encryption jobs -- for instance, if you're employing a disposable password that will never be used again (what's known in crypto circles as a "one-time pad.")

You can invoke WinPT through keyboard hotkeys, too. Instead of using the tray icon commands, you would set up the program to do an encrypt by pressing Alt+Shift in conjunction with a letter key. To configure this, right-click on the tray icon, select Preferences | WinPT, uncheck "Disable hotkeys," and configure the "Hotkey management" section with the keystrokes you want to use. (Other programs that perform hotkey trapping may interfere with this, so experiment with it.)

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Simple e-mail encryption

 Home: Introduction
 Step 1: Outlook's S/MIME
 Step 2: Public keypairs
 Step 3: GnuPG and WinPT: Setup
 Step 4: Encrypting e-mail in WinPT
 Step 5: Verifying signed e-mail in WinPT
 Step 6: Extras: Symmetric encryption and hotkey commands

More information from SearchWindowsSecurity.com

  • Whitepaper: Contributing to regulatory compliance with e-mail encryption
  • Opinion: How much encryption is enough?

    • ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
    Serdar Yegulalp is editor of the Windows Power Users Newsletter. Check it out for the latest advice and musings on the world of Windows network administrators -- and please share your thoughts as well! Copyright 2005 TechTarget

    This was first published in November 2005

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