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GpgFrontend

GpgFrontend: A Personal Cipher Machine for Everyone

“In a world of constant surveillance, everyone deserves a private machine that just works.”

GpgFrontend is a free, open-source app for OpenPGP encryption, signing, and key management. OpenPGP is a widely used standard for locking files and messages, so that only the right people can read them. GpgFrontend puts the power of the command-line tools into a clean desktop app.

It has a dual-engine core. The engine is the part that does the encryption work. You can use the proven GnuPG engine or the modern, memory-safe rPGP engine, which is written in Rust. Everything runs locally on your device, with no accounts, no cloud, and no tracking.

Features

Section titled “Features”
  • Easy: encrypt and sign your text, files, and more in just a few clicks.
  • Cross-platform: runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Portable: run it straight from a USB drive and carry your keys with you. See Portable Mode.
  • Email: write, sign, encrypt and send email, and read it from your mail server. See Email Overview.
  • Key databases: keep keys apart in several separate key databases. See Key Databases.
  • Dual-engine: use the mature GnuPG engine or the Rust rPGP engine.
  • Profiles: keep separate sets of keys and settings, and switch between them. See Profiles.
  • Future-proof: try the newest version of the OpenPGP standard (v6, RFC 9580) and post-quantum algorithms. These are designed to stay safe even against future quantum computers. See Post-Quantum Keys.
  • Protected memory: sensitive data is guarded in secure memory while in use. See Memory Security.
  • Private: everything runs locally, with no telemetry or tracking.
  • Modules: extra features come as modules. See Module Controller.

Where It Came From

Section titled “Where It Came From”

GpgFrontend is inspired by gpg4usb, a stable, portable, cross-platform project, and shares its core ideas. GpgFrontend keeps the same focus on portability. On top of that, it adds advanced features, modern cryptographic standards, and a clean, easy-to-use interface.

The article “The Past and Present of GpgFrontend: My Journey with an Open-Source Encryption Tool” tells the story. The project grew from a simple wish:

“What if everyone could have a small, reliable, and secure ‘crypto machine’?”

That is the heart of the mission: to make OpenPGP encryption truly easy. The goal is a sturdy, simple, handy “digital machine” for everyone, on any major operating system.

Open Source and Free

Section titled “Open Source and Free”

GpgFrontend is licensed under GPL-3.0 and built by a worldwide community. Every line of code is open to inspect. Contributions are warmly welcome, from issue reports to code patches. GpgFrontend is free, and the project does not take donations. See Free & No Donations.