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Installing GPG_for_Thunderbird_Portable and Engima

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ka.aly
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Last seen: 13 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2010-12-10 11:03
Installing GPG_for_Thunderbird_Portable and Engima

Dear TB users

I'm needing to get GPG to work for my current ThunderbirdPortable 3.0.6 installation, on Windows XP SP2.

The first option I went with was trying to install Enigma enigmail-1.1.2-tb-win(2).xpi as an Add-on, and install gpg4win independently, so to have Enigma just for providing the mail encrypt menu option. However, Enigma installation from the Add-on wizard was not successful.

I then downloaded GPG_for_Thunderbird_Portable_1.4.10.paf from https://portableapps.com/support/thunderbird_portable#encryption, where the page advises "To add GPG to Thunderbird Portable, just download GPG for Thunderbird Portable 1.4.10 and install it right over your existing installation. Then download the Enigmail extension and install it into Thunderbird. When you restart Thunderbird Portable, you'll have full access to Enigmail and GPG, all made portable."

I am not sure what is meant by installing GPG for Thunderbird right over existing TB installation. Does it contain a new TB installation. When I specify the current TB installation folder, It creates a sub-folder called Thunderbird, with content the resembles the initial TB installation. I thought it would rather override TB install without creating new Profile folder etc.

Can someone explain/elaborate please.

Thanks & regards..
Khaled

ottosykora
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Last seen: 2 days 13 hours ago
Joined: 2007-10-11 17:48
enigma

well, there are some versions, when you go to the addons site, check that the version you are trying to install is the correct one for your TB!

I see that you have 3.0x Thunderbird, for that get the enigmail 1.0.1 and not one of the later one.
https://addons.mozilla.org/de/thunderbird/addon/71/versions/

When you install the gpg then, all will work fine.
When you update Thunderbird to latest version, you will be prompted that enigmail is not compatible any more, update automatically and all will work again.

Do you have a key pair already? Should you have older one with (legacy RSA V3 key) then come here again, I will guide you to the installation of the IDEA algo which might then be essential.

GPG:
yes you just run the installer and thats it.
there will be additional folder under Data: gpg (gpg.conf, keyrings etc)
and additional folder under app: gpg (executable)
If you have any problems, just install it to other folder, copy the gpg folder from the data folder and gpg folder from the app folder and paste it to your existing installation.

anyway, it is not any very special version of gpg or so, you can grab any copy , preferred not one called 2.x but one of the 'lower' 1.4.x versions.

Then you need to create or import keys and all is ready for encryption

you can then install other gpg front end and point it then to the gpg inside the thunderbird.

In fact I am using winpt, which seems to be more complete then the gpg4win.
Use gpg4usb in fact, this is ready for portable use as it is, just point it to the gpg.exe and key rings.

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

ka.aly
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Last seen: 13 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2010-12-10 11:03
Installing GPG for Thunderbird Portable and Engima

Thank you very much for your help. All worked well with correct versioning.

I'm just wondering how to publish keys to a public key server for others to download. Does it work only through personal exchange of keys?

Best regards,
Khaled

ottosykora
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Last seen: 2 days 13 hours ago
Joined: 2007-10-11 17:48
important!

make sure you have created the definitiv key you are going top keep for some time.
Firts then go and upload it to a keyserver!!!

Do not, please do not, upload any kind of 'testkeys' or other temporary keys etc. Some older keyservers use for compatibility reason still older software and there it is not possible to delet a key at all. One can only revoke it, but not delete.

So prepare all, experiment, and when you are sure then upload it to a server.

You can add some more servers to your gpg, see about servers here:

http://www.rossde.com/PGP/pgp_keyserv.html#pubserv

You can upload the key from enigmail key managemnt. Add more key servers, not all work all the time. You can send the key to more then one server, but in fact the key servers should propagate the changes so your key should be then after few days on most servers.
You can use also mail to send it to the servers , dave ross has some describtion of it on his pages too.
Many of the serves have also web interface, you can send the key there this way too.

you can also copy/paste the key list to your enigmail (preferencies)

ldap://certserver.pgp.com, subkeys.pgp.net, pool.sks-keyservers.net, pgp.mit.edu

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

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