How to Create a Public Key Certificate
PGP encryption software uses a cryptography approach that enables encryption with a matched key set, consisting of a public key and a private key. Keys are also referred to as "digital certificates." A file can be encrypted by anyone who has access to the public key and unencrypted by anyone having the private key. Therefore, when you create your key set, you must ensure that only trusted users have access to your private key. You can provide the public key openly to anyone who might want to send you encrypted files. You can create a public key pair using the PGPkeys tool in the PGP software application in Windows.
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Instructions
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Click "Start > All Programs > PGP > PGPtools." This opens the PGPtools toolbar.
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Click the "PGPkeys" icon in the toolbar. This opens the PGPkeys window.
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Click "Keys" in the menu bar; then click "New Key" in the drop-down menu. This starts the PGP Key Generation wizard.
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Click the "Next" button on the wizard's Welcome screen. Type your name and email address in the corresponding text boxes on the Name and Email Assignment page; then click the "Next" button.
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Uncheck the "Hide Typing" button on the Passphrase Assignment page.
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Type a passphrase in the "Passphrase" text box; then type it again in the "Confirmation" text box. Select a long passphrase that includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters such as @, # and &. The passphrase must have at least 8 characters, but consider a passphrase with 12 or more characters. Click the "Next" button.
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Click the "Next" button on the keypair generation page; then click the "Finish" button. Your new public key digital certificate and private key digital certificate will both be displayed in the PGPkeys window.
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Tips & Warnings
The directions described apply only to Windows operating systems. Different directions apply to other operating systems such as Linux or Mac OS X.
