How to install PGP 5.5.3i

• The directory where you want to install PGP
• Whether or not you want to install plugins for Outlook and/or Eudora
• Where Outlook and/or Eudora programs are located
• Whether or not you have already a couple of keys (public/private). If you have never installed PGP before now, you have not a couple of key. Otherwise you have to specify to PGP where the old keys are located
• Finally a wizard will guide you step by step during creation of a couple of keys
• At the end of this process PGP will build a little icon in your menu bar: 'PGPtray' (by clicking here you can call two other programs: 'PGPtools' and 'PGPkeys')

Something about the wizard...

During this stage PGP will ask you for a couple of keys: if you already have a couple of keys, just specify where it is located, otherwise you have to create your first couple of keys. In the second case you will have to provide just some information in order to create your couple of keys. The wizard will guide you during installation, anyway I'm going to show you some important steps:

This is the wizard to generate your couple of keys...

Here you have to provide your REAL FULL NAME and your REAL E-MAIL ADDRESS: please, type real and correct information here! Don't put a nickname or a false e-mail address (you have to provide correct information here, because it will be easier for people to verify your public key. We will see more about keys verification in a next section..:-)

Here PGP is just asking you what type of key it has to generate for you...

Now you have to specify the length of the key (2048 is a quite secure value)

Don't modify this setting: you will be never able to use your key after it has expired!!!

Here you have to type your passphrase. To know more about passphrases, take a look at my page 'passwords and passphrases' (just follow the link in the previous page).

If you choose a very insecure passphrase (less than 8 characters, PGP will alert you with the above window). YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE A SECURE PASSPHRASE!! This is a very important issue (for this reason I wrote a page about passwords and passphrases: just go back to the previous page and follow the link...:-)

During this stage PGP will create a file named 'randseed.bin'. This file stores random data (collected in a random manner, for example by means of your mouse's movements) that will be used by PGP during key generation sessions and to create a temporary session key during data encryption.

'Complete' means that now you have your couple of keys (go on with the wizard...)

Well, just insert a floppy disk and click on 'Save Backup Now'...

That's all! :-)