Why PGP isn't so ubiquitous (was NRC Session Hiss)

["Deranged Mutant" <WlkngOwl@unix.asb.com>]

On  2 Jun 96 at 21:15, Lucky Green wrote:

> That PGP is ubiquitous is subject to discussion. PGP is widely available, 
> but that doesn't mean that it is widely used. What percentage of email is 
> PGP encrypted? Less than half a percent?

In part because it's not well integrated with mailers.  That could 
change with a PGP3 DLL.

PGP isn't only used for email:

 o files distributed over the net that are PGP-signed
 o signed email
 o non-emailed file distributions (over BBS, or physical
    transfer of disks)
 o personal storage (though other utilities are better-suited
    for that than PGP)
 o related utilities that make use of PGP-keys (HPack
    archiver)

The reasons PGP hasn't become widely used are because of it's lack of 
user-friendliness and poor integration into other tools, irregardless 
of S/MIME.

Rob.

 
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        AB1F4831 1993/05/10 Deranged Mutant <wlkngowl@unix.asb.com>
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