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# @(#) $Id: Why_GPG.txt,v 1.4 2024/07/16 14:46:40 ralph Exp $
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Q: Why should I want to send you encrypted mail?

A: Quite simply because privacy is one of the highest goods of mankind is. In
times of collective stultification and massive restriction of personal rights in
the name of the fight against terror, this is sometimes forgotten. George
Orwell's visions should remain visions!

If you write me an encrypted message via PGP, you have to sign it. Otherwise I
can read it but I can't answer you encrypted. If you sign the message, then your
KeyID is attached to it. My GnuPG can then use it to get the public key from the
keyserver. And then I can also reply encrypted. So please set your default to
"Encrypt AND Sign".

Q: But you can also search for the name or the e-mail on the keyserver!

A: Yes, but anyone can upload keys under any name. If you send me a signed
message, then I get exactly your public key from the server, no matter how many
fake keys are lying around.

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My GnuPG keys can be found in this directory and in the file ROSEBBS.TXT

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It has always made sense to encrypt your e-mails, because sending a message on
the World Wide Web is like sending a postcard with the good old post. With
minimal effort, almost anyone is able to intercept emails from others - read and
modify them - and then send them on as if nothing had happened. And that's just
between us: Who wants their mail read or forged?

Since the beginning of 2005, the German investigating authorities have even been
expressly permitted by law to intercept and read your mail in suspicious cases
alone. As you can see, the encryption of e-mails is becoming increasingly
important! Please do not misunderstand me, this is not about paranoia and
conspiracy theories, but only about your basic rights. We all have a privacy,
and we want and need to protect it. This has always been a domain of the
"Linuxers", who do not want to be taken out of control of the PC and their
privacy.

-> http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Geheimdienste-ueberwachten-37-Millionen-Netzverbindungen-1442867.html

For the purpose of encryption and signing, the GNU PGP (GPG) tool has long been
available for free. There are numerous sites on the Internet that deal with GPG
and encryption. Look around and inform yourself, it is not as difficult as it
seems at first sight. The mail software Thunderbird is already delivered with
GPG support by default.

HINT: The German version of this document contains more details!
