Using PGP Viewer to decrypt email messages encrypted with PGP content (PGP Encryption Desktop)
Article ID: 153463
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
PGP Encryption products enable you to encrypt and decrypt content automatically and on-the-fly so that effort is minimized during these operations. When automatic options are not possible, such as when email disclaimers are added to the encrypted content, causing the content to no longer appear encrypted, then we have some manual methods to be able to decrypt the content. One of these manual methods is the PGP Viewer feature.
The PGP Viewer functionality allows you to decrypt email messages if PGP Encryption Desktop Email Encryption (Symantec Encryption Desktop) is either not integrated into your email client, or if automatic decryption is not possible in some rare circumstances.
TIP: For decrypting the text of email manually, you can use the "Clipboard" or "Current Window" functionality. For more information on these topics, see the following KBs:
180267 - HOW TO: Encrypt/Decrypt Text Using the Current Window feature with Symantec Encryption Desktop (PGP Desktop) for Windows
There are cases where emails will not decrypt automatically due to Group Policy configured for Outlook. For more information on this topic, see the following article:
153934 - PGP Encryption Desktop does not automatically decrypt messages in Outlook (Symantec Encryption Desktop)
Environment
Encryption Desktop 10.3 and above.
Resolution
To use PGP Viewer:
- Click on the Start button, open the Symantec Encryption folder and then click on PGP Viewer.
- Drag-and-drop an encrypted email message to the PGP Viewer area that states Drag Email or Files here:
Alternatively, save the email message to a folder and then click on the Open Message menu option in PGP Viewer to open the message file. - Enter your passphrase if prompted.
- The message will be decrypted.
- Click on Copy to Inbox to copy a decrypted copy of the message to the Inbox of your email client.
Attachments:
If you receive an email that is encrypted and has an attachment as well, once decrypted, you will see an option under attachments to save the decrypted attachment:
You can click on the drop-down arrow, and save the decrypted attachment anywhere on your system.
Once saved, you can then view the message.
Additional Information
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