Free PGP Encryption Tool Online

Experience PGP encryption directly in your browser. Generate keys, encrypt messages for a recipient, and sign data to prove authenticity. A practical tool for understanding email and file security.

Mode

User ID (Name/Email)

Key Size

Passphrase (Optional)

About PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)

PGP is an encryption program that provides cryptographic privacy and authentication for data communication. It uses a combination of symmetric-key and public-key cryptography for efficiency and security.

Key Features:
- Generate public/private key pairs for encryption and signing
- Encrypt messages that only the private key holder can decrypt
- Sign messages to prove authenticity and integrity
- Verify signatures to confirm message origin

Note: This is an educational implementation. For production use, consider established libraries like OpenPGP.js.

How It Works

This PGP encryption tool demonstrates OpenPGP standard operations for secure messaging. PGP combines symmetric and asymmetric encryption to provide both security and efficiency for email and file protection.

The encryption workflow:

Generate session key: A random symmetric key is created for this message only.
Encrypt message: The actual message is encrypted with the session key using a fast algorithm like AES.
Encrypt session key: The session key is encrypted with the recipient's public RSA/ECC key.
Package together: The encrypted message and encrypted session key are combined into the final PGP message.

This hybrid approach gives you the speed of symmetric encryption with the key distribution benefits of asymmetric encryption. Digital signatures work similarly but in reverse - signing with private key, verifying with public key.

When You'd Actually Use This

Secure Email Communication

Encrypt sensitive emails containing confidential information like financial data or personal records.

File Encryption for Sharing

Protect files before sending them via email or cloud storage where you don't control the servers.

Software Distribution

Sign software releases so users can verify authenticity and detect tampering.

Journalist-Source Communication

Protect whistleblower communications and sensitive source information from interception.

Legal and Medical Data

Encrypt privileged communications that require confidentiality under professional ethics rules.

Learning PGP Workflow

Understand the complete PGP process before using command-line GPG or email plugins like Enigmail.

What to Know Before Using

Key management is critical

Lose your private key = lose access to all encrypted messages. Backup your keys securely. Use strong passphrases to protect private keys.

Verify key fingerprints before trusting

Anyone can publish a key claiming to be someone else. Always verify fingerprints through a trusted channel before encrypting to someone.

PGP doesn't hide metadata

Recipients, subject lines, and timestamps are visible. Only the message body is encrypted. Consider this for threat modeling.

Both parties need PGP setup

PGP requires both sender and recipient to have keys and compatible software. This adoption barrier limits its practical use.

This tool is educational

For real security, use established tools like GnuPG, GPG Suite, or email clients with built-in PGP support.

Common Questions

What's the difference between PGP and GPG?

PGP was the original commercial software. GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is the free, open-source implementation of the OpenPGP standard. They're interoperable.

How do I get someone's public key?

They can email it, post it on their website, or upload it to a key server (keys.openpgp.org, keyserver.ubuntu.com). Always verify the fingerprint!

What is ASCII armor?

ASCII armor encodes binary PGP data as text using Base64. Makes it safe to send via email or paste in text. Look for BEGIN PGP MESSAGE markers.

Can PGP-encrypted messages be cracked?

Not with current technology, if properly implemented with strong keys. The encryption itself is secure. Attacks target key management, not the crypto.

What's a digital signature and why use it?

A signature proves you sent a message and it wasn't modified. You sign with your private key; anyone can verify with your public key. Provides authenticity and integrity.

Should I use RSA or ECC keys?

ECC (Ed25519) is modern, faster, and uses smaller keys. RSA is more widely compatible. For new keys, ECC is recommended. 3072+ bit RSA is also fine.

How do I revoke a compromised key?

Generate a revocation certificate when you create your key. Store it safely. If your key is compromised, publish the revocation certificate to key servers.

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