[Announce] GnuPG launches crowdfunding campaign

[Werner Koch]

GnuPG encryption project launches crowdfunding campaign

Today GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG) has launched its first crowdfunding
campaign [1] with the aim of building a new website and long term
infrastructure. The 24.000 EUR target will fund:

  - Fresh web interfaces for gnupg.org including mobile
  - Completion and release of GnuPG 2.1
  - Anonymous Tor network access to the website
  - A new user friendly download page suitable for all devices
  - A new server for web services
  - New pages convening external guides, videos, and handbooks
  - Facilities for processing recurring donations for long
    term project support

Project founder and Lead Developer Werner Koch said “GnuPG has
seen a huge upsurge in popularity following recent state spying
revelations. After 16 years of continuous development, we are now
asking for community support to capitalise on consumer demand for
privacy, and make GnuPG easy to access for mainstream audiences”.

GnuPG is one of the few tools remaining above suspicion in the wake
of leaked NSA documents. Edward Snowden and his contacts including
Bruce Schneier switched to GnuPG when they began handling the secret
documents earlier this year [2]. The Wall Street Journal, The
Committee to Protect Journalists, and ProPublica [3] have all embraced
GnuPG for protection of staff and sources. Phil Zimmermann, original
inventor of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), has also moved to GnuPG in
wake of the news.

“GnuPG is a key part of modern privacy infrastructure” said Sam Tuke,
Campaign Manager, GnuPG. “Millions of users rely on GnuPG to work
securely on servers, laptops and smartphones, but 2013 donations
totaling 3.000 EUR to date have not even covered fixed costs.
Supporting new algorithms like elliptical curve and fixing newfound
exploits fast takes a lot of work which is done voluntarily. Now is the
time for people to contribute to making GnuPG slick and more sustainable
in future”.

Jacob Appelbaum, Tor Project developer, added “GnuPG is important - it
allows us the assurances we need to do our work.  Community funding is a
critical part of a confident outlook for GnuPG in future.”


For further information, please contact Sam Tuke.
Email: samtuke [at] gnupg.org
Phone: +49 176 81923811


[1] <http://goteo.org/project/gnupg-new-website-and-infrastructure>
[2] <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/05/nsa-how-to-remain-secure-surveillance>
[3] <http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/hacks_hackers_security_for_jou.php>

== About GNU Privacy Guard ==

GnuPG is a leading cryptography app that protects emails and data from
interception. It is developed by a community of Free Software engineers
led by Werner Koch. GnuPG is used and recommended by the world’s top
security experts, including Bruce Schneier and Phil Zimmermann. It
offers best in class privacy free of charge and restriction. Hundreds of
companies have integrated GnuPG into their products to perform mission
critical security, including Red Hat, Deutsche Bahn, and many others.

http://gnupg.org


-- 
Die Gedanken sind frei.  Ausnahmen regelt ein Bundesgesetz.


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