GnuPG plugin for miranda icq
version 0.0.0.4

this is still beta code. it probably contains bugs. use it at your own risk.

this plugin adds openpgp support to the miranda icq im. it doesn't encrypt/decrypt anything. this job is done by the openpgp implementation gnupg.

----- requirements -----

windows 2000
miranda icq 0.1.2.1
gnupg 1.0.6

(should be run in other configurations)

----- features -----

transparent sending and receiving of encrypted messages
minimal key management

----- added functionality -----

contact menu:

<Use GnuPG Encryption>
if checked: all messages to this user will be sent encrypted. (available if you have selected a key for this contact)

<Send GnuPG Key>
sends your public key to the selected contact. (available if you have specified your key and the user is online)

---

options -> gnupg:

<Executable> and [...]
full path to the GnuPG executable file "gpg.exe". enter it manually or use the browse button. (required)

<Home Directory>
your GnuPG home directory. note: don't terminate the string with "\" or "/"! (required)

<Your Key>
the public key, which belongs to the selected secret key, will be sent, if you choose <Send GnuPG Key>.

<Contact Key>
use the listview and the dropdown to assign keys to your contacts. the plugin uses the keys, if you send encrypted messages to them.

[Refresh]
use these buttons to refresh the keylist dropdowns.

---

options -> gnupg advanced (expert options):

<Store Passphrases Temporary>
if checked: passphrases are stored in memory until the miranda session ends or the user disables this option. the plugin wipes out passphrases as soon as possible. they are never stored on disk. (initially checked)

<Import Public Keys Automatically>
if checked: the plugin adds received keys automatically to your keyring. if unchecked: you have to do this manually. (initially checked)

messages are tagged, if they were modified by the plugin. you can define your own tags. use "\r", "\n" or "\t" to format the messages.

<Start Tag>
(initially "<GnuPG Plugin>\r\n")

<End Tag>
(initially "\r\n</GnuPG Plugin>")

<Commandline Arguments>
the plugin spawns a GnuPG process for the encryption/decryption operations. sometimes it stores the input/output of the "gpg.exe" in files. sometimes it reads the output (writes the input) directly from (to) the process using pipes. 

the plugin generates a commandline for each operation. it will be assembled from <Executable>, <Home Directory> and these commandline strings. you can modify the commandline argument like you did it with the path to the "gpg.exe". but i hope you know what you are doing, if you change these settings. 

the strings contain some patterns, which will be replaced during the assembling process. in most cases the commandline have to include these patterns. otherwise the plugin will not work correctly.

%home%: replaced with <Home Directory>
%keyfile%: file containing a key
%userid%: the plugin uses key ids to identify GnuPG keys
%cipherfile%: file with ciphertext
%plainfile%: plaintext in a file

[Reset]
restores all commandline strings to their initial values.

---

userinfo -> GnuPG Plugin:

<User ID>, <Key ID>
key assigned to this contact

<Key Received>
date/time when you received the last key from this user.

<Key>
the key you received.

[Import]
add the key to your keyring.

----- to do -----

fix bugs if necessary

----- known problems -----

<Send GnuPG Key> doesn't work from the send message dialog. can't fix this, because i'm not able to determine if the menu was opened there.

the GnuPG plugin (and with it miranda) will hang up, if you place "\" or "/" at the end of <Home Directory>. (use the taskmanager to kill the running "gpg.exe" process in that case. miranda will return immediately.)

please sign the public keys of your contacts. the plugin can't encrypt messages with unsigned keys. (alternative but not recommended: add "--always-trust" to M->Plugins->GnuPG Advanced->Encrypt.)

----- notes -----

it's not possible to send encrypted icq messages or public keys to offline contacts. they have to be stored on the icq server. but the server can't handle large messages (450? or more characters). encrpyted icq messages und public keys exceed this limit.

----- author -----

contact me for bug reports, suggestions and comments. write an e-mail to <harald.treder@gmx.de>. enjoy reading my english ;).

----- thanks -----

cyreve (richard hughes): developing support
braini (michael baumann): bug reports und fixes

----- resources -----

http://miranda-icq.sourceforge.net
http://www.gnupg.org