PGP Means Only the Recipient Can Read Your Message

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PGP and OpenPGP based encryption can be used to convert any text or media into unreable binary "garbage", which can be read only with access to the private key. Content is encrypted using the public keys of one or more recipients, and only they will be able to decrypt it.

 

This means that even if the network is wiretapped or the servers are hacked, PGP encrypted content passing through the network or stored on the servers cannot be read by anyone, unless they manage to get a hold on the private key and the pass-phrase protecting it.

 

I use GMail. Won't Google be able to read my mail anyway?

 

No if the content of the messages is PGP encrypted. Even with full access to the servers or files, without the secret key the messages are protected.

 

What if someone has access to the public key used to encrypt the message?

 

PGP is based on Public Key Cryptography - which means you always use a pair of keys: a public and a private one. Public keys should be public and cannot be used to decrypt messages, only to encrypt them. Decrypting messages requires access to the private key matching the public key, and this key can be even further protected by a password phrase. This means it is extremely difficult to hack PGP encrypted content, and access to the public doesn't change that.

 

Can PGP be used only for EMail?

 

No, PGP usually integrates very well into EMail programs but can be used to encrypt any text or file - you can even post encrypted messages on Facebook!