OpenPGP & Enigmail
http://enigmail.mozdev.org/home/index.php.html
Quick start guide
http://enigmail.mozdev.org/documentation/quickstart.php.html
http://enigmail.mozdev.org/documentation/enigmail-quickstart.pdf
Install GnuPG on local computer
http://www.gnupg.org/
Windows uses version 1.4.11 as of 10 February 2011 - accept default settings
ftp://ftp.gnupg.org/gcrypt/binary/gnupg-w32cli-1.4.11.exe
Install right Enigmail package for your system.
http://enigmail.mozdev.org/download/index.php.html
Download the .xpi file to desktop and then use add-ons in Thunderbird and Seamonkey to install the package from the locally-saved file.
After installing, open the OpenPGP Preferences and make sure the GnuPG path is set (/usr/bin/gpg or C:\Program Files (x86)\GNU\GnuPG\gpg.exe) and restart Thunderbird.
Inside Enigmail, import local copy of pubring.gpg and secring.pgp
(Delete any old keys there)
Remember the key passphrase is stored securely elsewhere.
Import other people’s keys from http://pgp.mit.edu/
Test the sending and receiving of encrypted messages.
May want to adjust preferences inside Enigmail.
Useful reference for using keys on Linux:
http://www.debuntu.org/how-to-import-export-gpg-key-pair
http://aplawrence.com/Basics/gpg.html
If Enigmail seems to freeze, open an xterm and follow instructions below:
If you get this:
[juckins@metroliner: ~]$ gpg-agent gpg-agent[18835]: can't connect to `/home/juckins/.gnupg/S.gpg-agent': No such file or directory gpg-agent: no gpg-agent running in this session
Then follow tip on http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-642131-highlight-gpgagent.html
juckins@metroliner: ~/.gnupg]$ eval 'gpg-agent --daemon --use-standard-socket' GPG_AGENT_INFO=/home/juckins/.gnupg/S.gpg-agent:18933:1; export GPG_AGENT_INFO; [juckins@metroliner: ~/.gnupg]$ gpg-agent gpg-agent: gpg-agent running and available
If that all works properly, then edit .bash_profile like this:
# start gpg-agent (for Thunderbird Enigmail) eval 'gpg-agent --daemon --use-standard-socket 2>/dev/null'
Other possible help: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-security-4/gpg-gpg-agent-can%27t-connect-to-root-gnupg-s-gpg-agent-611843/