WinGPG

3. Once you press on “Finish” button, you see the following window:

Just click on “Register” button.

4. The installation has been completed, and a new icon appeared in Windows tray:

It means that WinGPG is ready.

5. The next step is to import your private key if it exists or generate if you don’t have one. Click on tray icon, and import the key as described below:

This is the main WinGPG window. In case you already have used GPG-based software before, your keys will be imported automatically; otherwise, there will be an empty list. Click on “Import Keys” if you have some. Locate them in the open dialog, select and click on ‘Open’ button. The GPG key will be imported into the system.

6. If you don’t have a private key, you need to create it. Click on “Create Keys” button and type the data in the pop-up window, like this:

The result looks like this:

7. Now you have your password protected private key and you need to make it default, as follows:

Use right-click in the list for the selected key and then use “Set as default” menu point. Do not forget to check “Use default keys” option below the key list as displayed.

Great, now you have everything configured. Do not forget to import all known public keys into WinGPG system, you might need as many keys as you have recipients.

8. The last step you need to extract your public key from the system and send it to all your recipients (or publish somewhere like the corporate portal, so everybody will able to get your public keys), as follows:

So you need to select your private key, push to “Export Keys” button, and in the opened pull-down menu specify the output file name and specify “public keys” option.

Now you’re ready to import/export files and texts and send it to your contact persons. Every time you want to send encrypted data for somebody, select their public keys from the list (multiple selections allowed). Do not forget to add yourself if you want to read back your encrypted texts. Encryption does not need anything, decryption needs your private key and might ask for the password for your key.

Hope this HOWTO was useful for you.

Portable version:

All you need is to download ZIP archive: 32bit/64bit, unpack it and call for setup.bat file. This version is portable so all your keys will be held in the same folder as you unpacked the version. Standard version uses your \Users\foo folder as other GPG-based application does.