PGP Install for Windows

PGP Desktop is licensed for College-owned Windows PCs. PGP Desktop is used by to secure personal information on your computer through disk and folder encryption, and to securely delete files.  Please use the links below for information on installing and using PGP Desktop.

• Installing PGP Desktop on Windows 7
• Installing PGP Desktop on Windows XP
• How to encrypt your hard drive, folder, or individual files.
• How to securely delete files from your hard drive, and securely wipe free space.

Installing PGP Desktop on Windows 7

Most College-owned Windows 7 computers already have PGP Desktop already installed, but not activated.  To see if PGP Desktop is installed, go to Start > All Programs, and look for a PGP Desktop folder.  If you see the PGP Desktop folder, skip these install directions and follow the activation directions.

1. Download the PGP Desktop installer for Windows 7 from Google Drive.
   • You will need to login to your Wellesley Google Apps account to download.
   • If you get an access denied error, log out of all your Google accounts and click on the link again.
2. Double-click the file to run it. If it asks you to confirm that you want to open the file, click Run .
3. PGP Desktop will run through it's install process.
4. Select Accept the License Agreement and click Next .
5. Select Do not display the Release Notes and click Next .
6. PGP Desktop will now install.
7. If you are asked to Allow the program, click Allow .
8. You will be asked to restart your computer, click Yes , and the computer will restart.
9. After the computer restarts and you login, a PGP Desktop login window will appear. Type in your Wellesley Domain username and password and click OK.
10. A PGP Setup Assistant window will appear.
    • If you have previously used PGP Desktop at Wellesley , choose I have used PGP before and I have existing keys , and then log in using your previously set PGP passphrase. 
    • If you have not used PGP Desktop at Wellesley , you will need to set up a passphrase for PGP Desktop. To setup your passphrase, follow the directions below .
    • If you have forgotten your passphrase , please contact the Help Desk.
11. You may now review the information on the features of PGP Desktop.

Installing PGP Desktop on Windows XP:

Setting up your passphrase for PGP Desktop

After you install PGP Desktop, you will be asked to login and configure your security keys.  If you have not used PGP Desktop at Wellesley before, you need to set a passphrase. This passphrase will be tied to your Domain Account, and is only used in PGP Desktop. It will not change or affect your Domain Account password.  To set up your passphrase, follow these instructions

1. In the Setup Assistant window, choose I am a new user .
2. In the PGP Key Setup Assistant window, click Next .
3. Choose Guarded Key Mode (GKM) and click Next .
4. Choose New Key and click Next .
5. You must now choose a passphrase, which will protect your PGP Security Key. For security reasons, make sure this passphrase is different than your Domain Account password.
   • Your passphrase must be at least 8 characters long (keeping in mind that the longer your passphrase is, the more secure it will be), and it should contain non-alphabetic characters, such as numbers, symbols, punctuation, or spaces.
   • Your passphrase can be a full sentence if you want.
   • Write your passphrase down and store it in a secure location. If you forget your passphrase, it will be very difficult to recover the passphrase and regain access to your encrypted files.
6. Click Next . The program will now generate your keys.
7. When the Current Status says Done, and the green progress bar is completely filled in, click Next, then click Next again, and finally click Finish to complete the installation.
8. You may now follow the instructions for encrypting your files here  or the instructions for securely deleting files here .