Early history

Phil Zimmermann created the aboriginal adaptation of PGP encryption in 1991. The name, "Pretty Good Privacy", is humorously acrid and was aggressive by the name of a grocery store, "Ralph's Pretty Good Grocery", featured in radio host Garrison Keillor's fabulous town, Lake Wobegon. This aboriginal adaptation included a symmetric-key algorithm that Zimmermann had advised himself, called BassOmatic afterwards a Saturday Night Live sketch. Zimmermann had been a adept anti-nuclear activist, and created PGP encryption so that analogously absorbed bodies ability deeply use BBSs and deeply abundance belletrist and files. No authorization was appropriate for its non-commercial use. There was not alike a nominal charge, and

the complete antecedent cipher was included with all copies.

In a announcement of June 5, 2001, advantaged "PGP Marks 10th Anniversary",11 Zimmermann describes the affairs surrounding his absolution of PGP

:

PGP begin its way assimilate the Internet, and it actual rapidly acquired a ample afterward about the world. Users and supporters included dissidents in absolute countries (some affecting belletrist to Zimmermann accept been published, and some accept been included in affidavit afore the US Congress), civilian libertarians in added genitalia of the apple (see Zimmermann's appear affidavit in assorted hearings), and the 'free communications' activists who alarm themselves cypherpunks (who provided both publicity and distribution).