Encrypting mail in Thunderbird
Key Issue
© pip, photocase.com
Combining the Enigmail add-on and the GnuPG encryption software gives Thunderbird users a powerful tool for encrypting and signing email.
Email communication has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. In addition to private correspondence, it is standard to send business messages by electronic mail. Of course, this means sending all kinds of confidential information across the wire, but you will be hard pressed to find anybody who really worries about the security of this medium, even though messages typically are transmitted in the clear to the recipient. This said, encryption is not exactly rocket science; in fact, thanks to modern software, it is quite simple and convenient.
The Add-On
Enigmail is an add-on for the Thunderbird email client and takes most of the responsibility off the user's shoulders. To do so, the add-on relies on the widespread GnuPG encryption software, which enjoys an reputation for security and supports the OpenPGP standard.
In this article, I will show you how to set up Enigmail and GnuPG and how to use the combination of these two programs to encrypt and sign email under the Ubuntu 7.10 distribution. However, the approach is almost identical for most Linux distributions.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Plasma Ends LTS Releases
The KDE Plasma development team is doing away with the LTS releases for a good reason.
-
Arch Linux Available for Windows Subsystem for Linux
If you've ever wanted to use a rolling release distribution with WSL, now's your chance.
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.