Al Gore Invented the Internet.
Joe Biden invented PGP encryption.
Cypherpunks write code.

Joe Biden gifted humanity with PGP encryption (in a roundabout way). Phil Zimmermann created PGP in response to a anti-privacy bill clause proposed by Senator Joe Biden.

https://www.americanscientist.org/article/cypherpunks-write-code

"In 1990, the FBI launched an over-the-top crackdown on computer hackers, known as Operation Sundevil. This was swiftly followed, in early 1991, by a proposed piece of U.S. Senate legislation that would force electronic communications service providers to hand over people’s personal data. (The key clause, S.266, was pushed by the then chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Joe Biden.)"

"On learning of Biden’s S.266 clause, Zimmermann feverishly set out to complete the project, almost losing his house in the process. When he finished his software in 1991, he published it all online, free for anyone who wanted to use it. He called it “Pretty Good Privacy,” or PGP for short, and within weeks it had been downloaded and shared by thousands of people around the world. “Before PGP, there was no way for two ordinary people to communicate over long distances without the risk of interception,” said Zimmermann in a later interview. “Not by phone, not by FedEx, not by fax.” It remains the most widely used form of email encryption to this day."

https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/senate-bill/266

"SEC. 2201. COOPERATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. It is the sense of Congress that providers of electronic communications services and manufacturers of electronic communications service equipment shall ensure that communications systems permit the government to obtain the plain text contents of voice, data, and other communications when appropriately authorized by law."

#Biden #JoeBiden #PGP #Cypherpunks #Cypherpunk #PhilZimmermann #Privacy #Cybersecurity #Cryptography #GPG #Email #Senate #Law #Government #Panopticon #Hackers #Hacking #Security #Encryption

I see some people still using ancient PGP keys. GnuPG offers Linux repositories for updating to the latest versions of GnuPG with new expert features for key generation. Recent versions support both Kyber1024 and Goldilocks448 keys (and more).

Once installed run: :~$ gpg --full-generate-key --expert

New GnuPG Repositories for Debian, Ubuntu, and Devuan: Stable and Development Branches Available

https://www.gnupg.org/blog/20250827-new-repository.html

#PGP #GPG #PQC #GnuPG #Encryption #Cryptography #Privacy #Signatures #Kyber #Goldilocks #ED448 #Keys #PublicKey

"Despite advancements in secure messaging, PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption—developed in the 1990s—remains a gold standard for privacy. Unlike modern apps reliant on centralized servers or phone numbers, PGP ensures end-to-end encryption without third-party dependencies. This article explores PGP’s enduring relevance, key management best practices, and how it compares to contemporary solutions like Signal."

#PGP #GPG #Encryption #Messaging #Cryptography