Homestead mailing list

[Gloria Morris <gloriamorris59 AT gmail.com>]

Thanks for bringing up PGP, Tim. I've looked into it before, but it 
seems that in order for it to work, everyone would need to use it. In 
other words, I  could not send an email encrypted by PGP to a client 
unless the client also had PGP- otherwise, the client could not read my 
email? And, if a client or business sends me an email without using PGP, 
there is also no security either.

The one thing I like about GMail is that it uses a secure connection for 
POP and SMTP. And, I have a secure system on this end, with an encrypted 
network. I realize that while the email is in transit beyond GMail it is 
open to attack unless encrypted, but I've never figured out how I would 
get everyone with whom I do business to switch to PGP.

Or, am I missing something in my reading about PGP? Is it more user 
friendly than it sounds?

Gloria

On 2/21/2010 1:11 PM, Tim Oppenheim wrote:
> Gloria,
>
> I agree with everything that you say, the big issue here is that email in of  
> itself is not very private at all. Whether it's stored on your computer or 
> somewhere else it is generally sent clear text. The nature of the Internet is 
> such that the bit and drabs of your message are send out in pieces finding 
> the best route among millions of servers and computers. It is trivially easy 
> to grab these packets from the air and read what they say. I will add getting 
> your particular ones is a might harder, but not even slightly un-doable.
>
> To your computer from wherever a message originates servers keeps gobs and 
> gobs of caches and logs. Not to mention that creepy guy down the street on 
> the same physical circuit as your cable modem.
>
> The essence is don't assume for a second that whatever you email is safe from 
> prying eyes. It's always best to foment revolution in person ; ).
>
> But please look at PGP ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy ) 
> and it's kind if you want some assurances.
>
> Tim.
>
> Caveat: Dear Echelon; I only mention revolution for illustrative purposes 
> only--Tim
>
>
> On Feb 21, 2010, at 12:55 PM, EarthNSky wrote:
>
>    
> > Here, here...
> >
> > Gloria Morris wrote:
> >      
> > > On 2/21/2010 12:53 AM, EarthNSky wrote:
> > >        
> > > >   The Gmail portion is operating wonderfully
> > > > under Thunderbird, but I need to log back on to the website and see if
> > > > it is storing mail like the problem Glo has.  I don't like webmail
> > > > because of security....not that I have that much to hide, but it is the
> > > > principle of the matter.  Can anyone help with this password thing?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >          
> > > It is odd how those of us who do not care for the concept that others
> > > can potentially read our email have to defend ourselves in online
> > > discussions. It should never be necessary to apologetically say "I have
> > > nothing to hide" when mentioning a concern about privacy issues. But it
> > > is. Because in almost every on-line conversation about privacy, if
> > > anyone mentions a concern, in most forums there is a very high
> > > likelihood that someone will say "I'm not worried about what Google<or
> > > insert other entity, including the government>  has on me because I HAVE
> > > NOTHING TO HIDE." The inference is that anyone who gives a rat's ass
> > > about privacy must be a criminal or have something to hide. Our society
> > > has gone from valuing individual freedom (and privacy) to practically
> > > demanding full body searches of innocent people in order to fly on an
> > > airline in the name of safety, and to fully accepting that our entire
> > > identities should be openly entrusted to a corporate entity or to the
> > > government.
> > >
> > > I still like the motto "Live Free or Die!" Over the course of my
> > > lifetime, I have watched the steady erosion of both privacy and
> > > individual freedom. People have been slowly conditioned not to care
> > > about personal freedom or privacy any longer. Sad but true.
> > >
> > > I don't feel we should apologize for not wanting someone reading our
> > > mail, whether snail or e. Who would feel comfortable seeing someone
> > > reading their mail out of their mailbox along the road? Even if they
> > > have nothing to hide? If it is no big deal, then why would that action
> > > be a federal crime? How is it any different with email? Nowadays, more
> > > business is conducted via email than snail mail. Many things which are
> > > of a private nature are dealt with online. And yet with email, a hacker
> > > or errant Google employee could access yours without your ever seeing
> > > them rummaging through your virtual mail box. Concern for privacy, in my
> > > mind anyway, is not a sign of a criminal mind, scheming to hide dark
> > > secrets, but a matter of prudence.
> > >
> > > Gloria
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Homestead list and subscription:
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> > > Change your homestead list member options:
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/erthnsky%40bellsouth.net
> > > View the archives at:
> > > https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >
> > > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > > Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2693 - Release Date: 02/17/10 
> > > 07:35:00
> > >
> > >        
> > --
> > Many of our greatest American thinkers, men of the caliber of Thomas
> > Jefferson, Henry Thoreau, Mark Twain, William James, and John Muir, have
> > found the forest an effective stimulus to original thought.
> > Bob Marshall
> > _______________________________________________
> > Homestead list and subscription:
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> > Change your homestead list member options:
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/timopp%40gmail.com
> > View the archives at:
> > https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
> >
> >
> >      
> _______________________________________________
> Homestead list and subscription:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> Change your homestead list member options:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/gloriamorris59%40gmail.com
> View the archives at:
> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>
>
>
>