PC-Online 1998 February/PCOnline_02_1998.iso/filesbbs/os2/pgpmr102.arj/PGPMR2.ZIP/PGPMR2.INF

OS/2 Help File | 1996-08-14 | 20.7 KB | 582 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Welcome to PGP for MR/2 ICE!!!

This is just a little GUI program to interface PGP & MR/2 ICE.

As of right now it is FREE!!! But of course the best things in life are free.

The best beer is free, the best food is free, the best women are free and the
best PGP front end is free.

I may at some time in the future ask for some small contribution nothing major
just your first born & a sworn statement that you will vote for me when I run
for the position of dictator of the world (look out Bill Gates I want that job
too.) ROTFL.

<sigh> For those of you that did not find the above paragraph funny call a cop
because someone has stolen you sense of humor. :)

I may need to change the name of the program sometime in the future. I am
currently corresponding with ViaCrypt (now owned by Phil Zimmerman) as far as
the trademark restrictions regarding the use of PGP.

Enjoy the program and don't mind this help file. It's a prime example of why
you should not write helpfiles after a six pack or two.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. Copyright ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Well let's see. Hmmmm.... Where to start??

PGP is copyrighted by Phil Zimmerman and may be trademarked. Basically it's his
program. I make no claims to the program PGP, the name PGP. The use of the name
PGP is strictly for information purposes. This program is merely an interface
between MR/2 ICE. & PGP. No cryptology code is contained in this program & no
code from PGP or MR/2 ICE.

MR/2 & MR/2 ICE are the intellectual property of Nick Night. I would imagine
that his program is also copyrighted & trademarked.

OS/2 & Rexx are IBM's which are copyrighted & trademarks of International
Business Machines, blah, blah, blah.

Dr. Dialog is copyrighted by IBM & written by David C. Morrill. Nice program
just wish he hadn't given up on it. :(

PGPMR2 & PGP for MR/2 are mine. It's my code so don't steel it!! You are not
allowed to use any of this in your program in any way shape or form without the
explicit WRITTEN consent of the author (That's ME).

You may use this program unaltered for it's intended purpose as a GUI interface
for PGP & MR/2 ICE. Any other use is a violation of the copyright. So there :P.

This program is presented as is. Period, nothing else to say. If you don't like
it don't use it. I do not guarantee that it will work as described on your
system. Hell it may just randomly zap your hard drive. That's the chance you
take when you don't write your own programs.

Well now that I have gotten all that out of the way enjoy the program.

P.S. any lawyers that wish to write a copyright notice "pro-bono" fell free to
do so. Since I'm not charging anything for the program the above notice will
have to do. :)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2. What is PGPMR2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

What is PGPMR2?

PGPMR2 is a GUI ( Graphical User Interface ) to aide in the use of PGP with
MR/2 ICE.

Basically it makes it easier to encrypt & decrypt your e-mail messages while
using MR/2 ICE.

The program does not do any of the cryptology work itself that's left to PGP.

The program does not send or retrieve e-mail that's left to MR/2 ICE.

This program does try to make it easier to use the two programs together.

It is assumed that you know how to use PGP & MR/2 ICE. If not then go RTFM.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.3. How Does it do it ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

PGPMR2 is written using a program called DR. Dialog which is similar to Vx-Rexx
or Gpf-Rexx or Visipro/Rexx which allow you to create pretty GUI windows for
your rexx code.

All the underlining code is Rexx. The rexx code is attached to "events".

An event can be may things:

     - The user hits a key
     - The user selects an option from a list
     - The user clicks on a check box

You get the general idea.

PGPMR2 let's you select what you want to do with your message and creates the
PGP command to do it for you. I hope I have designed the GUI to be as straight
forward as possible so that you wouldn't have to spend many of time looking at
this help file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.4. Who am I ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Getting Started ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

PGPMR2 is divided into 3 windows.

Your Main window where you will do most of your work.

Your Settings Window where you tell PGPMR2 the location of PGP & your keyrings.

Your Message Window where you can view the message you are working with.

The first time you start PGPMR2 a welcome window will pop-up. You can see this
window any time by selecting the Info menu option. Then the Settings window
will be displayed. There will be spaces to enter your PGP directory and the
file names of your Public & Private Keyrings.

After that you will be in the main window and ready to use PGP.



ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Main Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Main Dialog Window is divided into several sections:

Private Key List:

  A list box that displays all of the Private Keys in your Private Keyring.

Public Key List:

  A list box that displays all of the Public Keys in your Public Keyring.

Message Info:

  Two lines above the Private Key List display the From: & To: address of the
message you are working with. The Subject of the message is displayed in the
window header.

Hint Box:

  One line in between the window header & the message info lines. This box
provides "hints" on the different options in the main window. The text in this
box will change depending on the location of your mouse cursor in the main
window.

Encryption Options:

This is a group of 4 check boxes and one push button that let you select your
PGP encryption options. After checking your boxes and selecting your keys push
the Encryption button to encrypt your message.


Decryption Options:

This is a group of 5 check boxes and one push button that lets you select your
PGP decryption options. After checking your boxes push the Encryption button to
decrypt your message.

Message Push Button:

This button will display the Message window. This window will display the
message you are working with in it's current form.

Quit Push Button

This button will save your message in it's current form and return you to MR/2 ICE.

Menu Options:

There are only two menu options active at this time: Settings & Info.

Settings option will display the Settings window.

Info option will display the Welcome window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. Public Keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This list box will let you select multiple public keys from your public key ring.

When you first start the program several keys may be selected. PGPMR2 looks at
the To:,Cc:,and Bcc: lines in your message header and tries to match all the
addresses to public keys. If PGPMR2 can not match all the addresses to public
keys a pop-up warning message will be displayed informing you that these keys
can not be found.

There are some limitations to this. If you are sending messages to a list it is
not likely that you will have a key for the list. Also if you are sending a
message to a group address PGPMR2 will not look for the addresses associated
with that group.

Before PGPMR2 will encrypt any messages you must have at least 1 public key selected.

To select all keys click on a key & then press [ctrl] & [/] at the same time.
To deselect all keys press [ctrl] & [\].


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Private Keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This list box let's you select one private key from you private key ring.

This key is used for signing messages only.

It will not be added to any message and is not used for decrypting messages.

The private key used for decrypting messages is determined by PGP at the time
of decryption.

PGPMR2 will not sign any messages unless a private key has been selected.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. Message Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4. Encryption ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This group of check boxes & push buttons determine what encryption actions PGP
will perform on your message.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.1. Check Boxes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

There are 4 check boxes for encryption.

   - Encrypt
   - Sign
   - Add Key(s)
   - Her Eyes Only


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.1.1. Encrypt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This check box option tells PGPMR2 to use the -eat option to encrypt your message.

PGP will encrypt the message with all the public keys selected.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.1.2. Sign ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This check box option tells PGPMR2 to use the -sat option to clear sign your message.

PGP will sign the message with the private selected.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.1.3. Add Key(s) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This check box option will tell PGPMR2 to use the -kxa option to extract the
selected public keys. It will then append these keys to the end of your message.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.1.4. Her Eyes Only ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This check box option adds the -m option when encrypting & signing messages.

Note:  the -m option prevents the decrypted message from being saved on the
receiver's machine. When the receiver decrypts the message it is displayed to
his screen rather than being saved to a file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4.2. Encrypt Push Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When the Encrypt button is pushed PGPMR2 looks at the selected check boxes &
selected key and calls PGP to process the message.

Messages are processed in the following order:

   -Add keys first.
   -Clearsign messages second.
   -Encrypt message third.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5. Decryption ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This Group of checkboxes & push buttons determine what decryption actions PGP
will perform on your message.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5.1. Check Boxes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

There are 5 check boxes for decryption.

   - Decrypt
   - Verify
   - Sig Remove
   - Add Key(s)
   - Display to Screen

These checkboxes will automatically be checked for you depending on the message.

As an example; a message that is signed & contains a public key PGPMR2 will
automatically check the Verify &
Add Key(s) check boxes for you.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5.1.1. Decrypt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This check box tells PGPMR2 to decrypt the encrypted message.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5.1.2. Verify ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This option tells PGPMR2 to verify the PGP signature for the message.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5.1.3. Sig Remove ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This option tells PGPMR2 to remove the signature from the message. If this
option is selected the verify option is also selected.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5.1.4. Add Key(s) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This option tells PGPMR2 to add any keys in your message to your public keyring
using the -ka option of PGP.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5.1.5. Display to Screen ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This checkbox tells PGPMR2 to display your decrypted message to the screen only
using the -m PGP option.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5.2. Decrypt Push Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When the Decrypt button is pushed PGPMR2 looks at the selected check boxes and
calls PGP to process the message.

Messages are processed in the following order:

   - Decrypt Message.
   - Verify Signature.
   - Remove Signature.
   - Add Keys to public keyring.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.6. Current Push Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This push button will display your message with any changes you have made while
running PGPMR2.

The message dialog is read only. To change the text of your message you must
quit the program and edit it using the MR/2 ICE editor.

CAUTION:
Do Not change the text of your message after signing it. If after signing a
message you need to change the text use the remove signature option then edit
the text then resign the message.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.7. Original Push Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This push button displays your message as it was before PGPMR2 was called.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.8. Quit Push Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This push button lets you return to MR/2 ICE without saving any changes made by PGPMR2.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.9. Save Push Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This push button returns you to MR/2 ICE saving all changes made using PGPMR2.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.10. Menu Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.10.1. File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu option is not implemented at this time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.10.2. Keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This Menu option is not implemented at this time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.10.3. Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This option displays the settings window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.10.4. Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu option displays the pop-up program info message that was displayed
the first time the program was run.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.10.5. Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This menu option displays this help file PGPMR2.INF


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Settings Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The settings dialog is used to tell PGPMR2 where your PGP directory is located,
the names of your Public & Private keyrings, and the default settings of your
encryption check boxes.

At current PGPMR2 only supports 1 public keyring & 1 private keyring. These
keyrings MUST be located in your PGP directory.

In future releases (warning potential vaporware promise) PGPMR2 will support
multiple keyrings in any location.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Info Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is a simple pop-up window that gives you the version number of PGPMR2.
That's it just a pretty little window that really doesn't do anything. It did
give me a chance to play with some dialog controls that I couldn't find an
excuse to put anywhere else. :)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Warning Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This pop-up window will appear if PGPMR2 is started and it cannot match all the
addresses in your To:, Cc:, & Bcc: fields to keys in your public keyring.

This does not mean you don't have the keys you need. If the address you are
sending to does not match the address in the userid field of the key PGPMR2 has
no way of finding it. Just select it manually.

If you are sending to a list it is unlikely that you will have all the keys for
that list & it would be poor etiquette to send encrypted messages to it.

Currently PGPMR2 will not resolve Group addresses to their individual e-mail
addresses. I plan on adding this in a future release ( warning: another
potential vaporware promise <G>).

There is nothing in PGP that forces the user to use his e-mail address as his
user id for his key. It makes it easier but is not required.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Misc. Notes From the Author ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Well, I actually got through all this typing.

I think I have more lines in this help file than I do in source code. :)

Below is a list of options I would like to add to my program sometime in the
future:

  - Multiple Keyring support
  - MIME comparable
  - Group Address Support
  - Multi Language Support

Here are some things I am researching but don't know where they will lead:

  - Alternative encryption methods

  - Steganography: (the hiding of data in graphics & sound  files).

I hope that you find the program of use.

Oh almost forgot the plug for my company. :)

I am the sole proprietor of Geiger Consulting.

I specialize in Data Processing & Telecommunications work.

I have the following areas of interest but am not limited to these:

   - OS/2, & IBM Lanserver platforms ( who knew? )

   - Internet application & development & ISP setup & design.

   - Medical Management.

   - Just about anything else to make a buck. :)

My web site is http://www.amaranth.com/~whgiii

E-Mail: [e-mail]


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. PGP ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Sorry I don't have the time to do these last two pages. :(

I will come out with an update to this help file and I will use these last two
pages to discuss PGP, Data Encryption, and Data Security issues.

If you are looking for info on PGP the best place to go is alt.security.pgp. I
post regularly there. I am also on #os/2 now and then when I have time usually
late at night (I am located in the US Central Time Zone +0500 during daylight savings)

When I get the time I will be creating a separate PGP page on my web site. With
PGP info & links to other sites.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.2. Security ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Changes in PGPMR2 v. 1.01 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following changes have been made in version 1.01

Better public key handling.
======================

PGPMR2 was choking on some public keys most noted
was the handling of revoked keys. FIXED

Gray Screen with 4OS2.
===================

After calling PGP PGPMR2 would be displayed with a blank gray screen when
running 4OS2. FIXED

Querkus Rexx.
============

There were some syntax incomparability between Querkus Rexx & Standard Rexx.
FIXED


Known Bugs - Fixes in progress
==========================

Sys3175
=======

Problem:  This error message appears after running PGPMR2 for the first time &
then closing the program.

Fix:  Just call PGPMR2 again. You should not see this error message again after
the first time PGPMR2 is run.  You may have to shutdown MR/2 ICE and restart
then call PGPMR2.

I am working on a "true" Install routine that will eliminate this problem.

No Keys Displayed
===============

Problem:  Public &/or Private keys not being displayed in PGPMR2.

Ensure that you have the correct drive & path for PGP in your settings window.

Only enter the file name for your Public & Private Keyrings.

Public & Private Keyrings MUST be located in your PGP Directory.

Make sure that you have the proper PGPPATH settings in your Config.sys file.


MIME
====

Problem: MIME attachments not properly displayed after signing message.

Solution: On messages you plan on signing/encrypting do not use MIME Attachments.

I am working on a fix for this with Nick. I hope to have a fully MIME
compatible version out soon after Nick's next release. (I hope). :)


If you are experiencing any problems not in this list please let me know ASAP.
I am hard at work to squash these bugs while adding more features with added usability.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Changes in PGPMR2 v. 1.02 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Changes in version 1.02
===================

Only one "bug" fix in version 1.02.

In version 1.01 I had introduced a bug that caused the PGP window not to be
displayed when doing more than one PGP operation at the same time.

This has been