There are also a number of convenience features including automatic synchronization between Outlook and Windows Live Meeting (LMS), the ability to import email addresses from multiple mail servers, and synchronization of calendar events. Some of the other features include PGP Desktop email client application, which allows the user to encrypt all incoming and outgoing messages in one place. However, these components have been adapted for use with computers running Microsoft Windows and do not require installation. Many of the features present in PGP Desktop are similar to those found in commercial encryption software, such as PGP Secrets, and PGP Keychain, and are available to be installed directly onto the computer.
Some people are concerned about installing this application because of its similarity to rogue programs such as Spybot and Ad-Aware, which install unwanted software on the computer without the user's knowledge. The program allows a user to create a "cover" to his or her screen, making it impossible for anyone to view the contents of the user's computer without the authorization of the user in many ways. It was created by PGP Corporation with the intention of improving upon the security and privacy features of the popular Windows program 'Microsoft Office'. In addition, after the installation, the PGP Shredder dumpster will appear on the desktop, which is used for permanent deletion: the files placed in it will be deleted and the space occupied by them will be zeroed out.ĭespite such a wide range of functions, it is quite easy to work with PGP Desktop, the interface will not cause difficulties in mastering, wizards will help you to perform the basic operations, and in case of any questions there is a deployed help system.PGP Desktop is an online desktop application for Windows, which belongs to the category Security & Privacy category.
All container actions are logged, from which the user can get information about who created or opened the encrypted archives at any time.Īmong other things, the program can create virtual encrypted disks that can be connected and operated in the same way as regular disks, as well as encrypt partitions and wipe free space, making it impossible to recover deleted data. By the way, you can activate container compression in the program settings, in this case they will take up less space and get an additional level of protection against cryptanalysis. The selected items are placed in an extension container. They can quickly encrypt files or directories. Once installed, PGP Desktop integrates with Explorer and adds new menu items to the Windows context menu.
The program will ask you to do all of this at the first launch. Among the main settings you need to specify the encryption and hashing algorithms, the lifetime and length of the key, as well as to enter a passphrase that will be used to access the container with the keys.
It can encrypt business correspondence, email, text information, as well as files and entire hard drives.ĭue to the asymmetric encryption features, it is necessary to first create a key pair consisting of a public and private key, which will then be used for encryption, as well as for installation and verification of digital signatures. PGP Desktop is one of the most powerful programs for data protection and encryption.