1) Download all the files listed above to a folder on your computer, for example:
C:\thunderbird

2) Unzip the contents of the thunderbird-win32.zip file to
C:\program files\thunderbird

3) Create a shortcut to
C:\program files\thunderbird\thunderbird.exe with the extra parameter of -profilemanager

Note: Current versions of Thunderbird have an installer (versions 0.71+). So you can run the installer instead of unzipping the zip file.

4) Unzip the contents of gnupg-win32cli-1.2.3.zip to
C:gnupg

5)Start Thunderbird using the shortcut you just made. The Profile Manager should be visible when you start Thunderbird (because of the parameter you added to the shortcut)

6)Create a new profile called "gnupg". Proceed with the Email Account Set up Wizard so you can check and send email using Thunderbird. For more information with setting up new accounts for Thunderbird, please see the Introduction to Thunderbird Tutorial, which has step-by-step instructions.

7)Go to the Tools menu in Thunderbird, and choose Options:



8) Click on the Extensions panel, and then click on "Install New Extension" :



9)Install Enigmail Plugin Files:
Choose the first file xpi file (enigmail) and install it. Repeat the process with the second xpi file (enigmime). Accept the installation warnings. After you install the first one, you will get a message to restart Thunderbird. But wait until you install the second xpi file before you restart Thunderbird.



10)Restart Thunderbird.

Go to Tools | Options and click on the Extensions Panel again. Select Enigmail, and then click on Settings.



In the Settings screen, make sure the "GPG executable path" is set to C:gnupggpg.exe .



11)Go to Tools | Account Settings and find the section corresponding to the email account you have set up. Go to the Addressing & Composition section and uncheck the "Compose in HTML format" checkbox.



Go to the OpenPGP Security section and choose "Enable OpenPGP support (Enigmail) for this account".



12) Now its time to generate a public and a private password (key) for your email account.
Go to Enigmail | Generate Key :



and perform the following steps:

a)Select the Email Account for which you want to generate private and public passwords

b)Type a password to protect the generated private password

c)Repeat the password you just typed

d)Type a description for the generated public and private passwords
(something like: "for Jay's hotmail account")

e)Press the "Generate key" button



13) If the key generation process succeeds, you should see the following confirmation screen:



14) Now it's time to export your public key to a text file, so that you can send it other people. Anyone who has your public key can encrypt and send email to you which you alone can decrypt (using your private key).

Go to the Start menu, and click on "Run". Then type in "command" (without the quotes) and click on "OK".

The DOS command line prompt should come up.

Follow the following steps to export your public key:

a) You may be in a sub directory. Type cd/ and then press enter. This will take you to the top most (root) directory.
b) Change to the GnuPG directory by typing cd gnupg (and then press enter).
c) To make sure than the key you generated really exists, type: gpg --list-keys (and then press enter)
d) To export your public key to a text file, type gpg --export -a > my_public_key.asc and then press enter.
You may also export it using a more familiar .txt extension: gpg --export -a > my_public_key.txt

15) Open Notepad and then open the public key which you just exported. Here is how my public key looks:



Congratulations ! You have completed all the installation steps!

Category: Email Encryption

Comment: Read 3 comment(s)

Link: Permanent Link