All the keys that you need for encrypting, signing, decrypting, and verifying files are held in a special file called a keystore.
Before you can encrypt, sign, decrypt and verify files you must logon to your keystore so FAOPGP has access to your keys. At all other times your keystore is protected so that no one else can use it.
NOTE: If the PC is left unattended you may choose to run a secure screen saver or logoff from your keystore. See Keystore Logon & Security.
Creating your keystore
When you first install FAOPGP, it checks to see if you have a previously installed version of an ArticSoft keystore (this could be from a previous installation of FAOPGP). If you have, it is automatically selected and you don't need to do anything. Otherwise one is automatically created for you. Your keystore is specific to your Windows logon name, so multiple people can share the same PC, each with their own keystore.
If no keystore is detected when you start FAOPGP for the first time the following dialog is displayed:
Enter New Password
You must enter a password for the keystore. Your password must be between 8 and 40 alphanumeric or special characters.
The password you enter here is used to protect your keystore from being used by other people and is used as part of a special key to unprotect the keystore during normal operation. If you would like guidance on password selection please see choosing a good password.
NOTE: You must choose a password that can only be known by you. Your personal keys in the keystore are protected using this password. The longer the password is, the harder it is for anyone else to guess or discover. Take care to remember this password and do not disclose it to anyone. If someone manages to log on to your keystore then they can masquerade as you.
'Password' is not acceptable to FAOPGP as a valid password because it is seen as insecure. If you choose this, the next time you use FAOPGP you will be prompted to change it.
Confirm New Password
Retype the password you entered in the new password field to confirm that it is correct.
As soon as you press
your keystore is created, protected with the password you just entered. You are now logged onto your keystore and FAOPGP is ready for use. The icon in the Windows System Tray will change to a brighter background and a yellow key 
to let you know you are logged on.If you press
your keystore is not created and FAOPGP will not start. You can, however, create your keystore next time you start FAOPGP.Future Logons
Every time you start the FAOPGP GUI or use one of the menu options from Windows Explorer you will be asked to logon to your keystore (if you are not already logged on). Please read Keystore Logon & Security for further information.
NOTE: Make sure when you start up your computer and logon to Windows that you use the same user name as you did when you created your keystore. Otherwise, FAOPGP will create a new keystore under the name you have just logged onto Windows with.