# PGP question, file encryption **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2007, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pgp-question-file-encryption/386667 "2007-01-04T08:05:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pgp-question-file-encryption/386667/1 "2007-01-04T08:05:17Z")
Back in high school (4 years ago) I had a copy of PGP that let you encrypt files. A password was all that was needed to unlock the files, you didn’t need to have PGP to decrypt them. IIRC it just copied the file(s) to a new folder decrypted after a password was entered correctly. I believe, IIRC, that the icons were steel gray with what looked like bolts around the border to make it look like a bank vault or something. I thought it was amusing and cool… And I can’t find it now. Does anyone have a clue what I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pgp-question-file-encryption/386667/2 "2007-01-04T08:38:15Z")
I think you are confusing PGP with Zip or a similar program that supported encrypted self-extracting archive files. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pgp-question-file-encryption/386667/3 "2007-01-04T09:20:42Z")
No, it was PGP… I could use the e-mail part as well but I just never did. It was bundled up with a couple other cool PGP features. IIRC PGP was written in really small letters on each icon. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pgp-question-file-encryption/386667/4 "2007-01-04T12:20:49Z")
Yes, PGP does support Self Decrypting Archives. You can get the latest version for a wide range of platforms [here](http://www.pgpi.org/products/pgp/versions/freeware/).