OT: PGP, commercial product vs opensource stuff - viability/usability

[Fairlight]

On Sun, Oct 30, 2005 at 04:24:00PM -0500, John Esak may or may not have
proven themselves an utter git by pronouncing:
> Hence, the real and only meaningful actual question I'm asking is: Does
> anyone here actually use PGP currently to encrypt ftp files, send and
> receive them with real data to real business partners... transacting real
> business that would say replace the same which might normally be done with
> straight EDI documents, VANS... i.e., external/unknowable
> encryption/security?

In case my previous answer left doubt, let me -directly- answer this most
meaningful actual question separately:

Yes, one of my clients, and their business customers, use the freely
available GPG for precisely the purpose you're describing--automatedly
encrypting, ftping, and the receiver automatedly decrypting.  And the
reverse direction as well, of course.  

I believe the documents in question are usually CSV for import/export, but
it doesn't matter what the content is--GPG will handle anything.

Yes, it works, and yes, people are doing it commercially.  I personally set
up the automated decryption on end's ftp server and tested the whole lot.
It works fine for all parties involved.  The only thing I can't tell you is
-which- PGP the remote ends are using, as I was never given that
information.  Should be able to be either though, in most cases.

mark->