If you use public Windows based computers or Windows based computers at work or a friends house and you want the ability to decrypt and encrypt your emails have a look at the PortableApps version of Thunderbird. It fits on a small USB stick. Go to PortableApps.com and download Mozilla Thunderbird, Portable Edition, GPG for Thunderbird Portable 1.4.10 and the Enigmail extension.
Install Mozilla Thunderbird, Portable Edition onto your USB stick.
Install GPG for Thunderbird Portable 1.4.10 to the SAME Directory you installed Thunderbird to. (( See PortableApps documentations here. ))
Run Thunderbird, setting up your email accounts, and then install theEnigmail extension. (( See PortableApps documentations here. )) From inside the OpenGPG menu you will be able to setup your GPG/PGP key by creating a new key or importing an existing key.
With this setup, you will have a portable way to access your email and encrypt email text, attachments as well as sign, and decrypt emails sent to you. This setup installs Thunderbird, GnuPG and Enigmail. The GnuPG install will allow you full use of GPG from the command line as well as using it via the OpenGPG Menu in Thunderbird. Security Concerns using this method are:
Loss of your USB stick - since it contains both your GPG/PGP Public and Private Keys.
Using this method you can also install this secure email solution, or any of the PortableApps on your USB stick OR on your PC desktop.
