Phil Zimmerman

Philip R. Zimmermann is the creator of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), the most widely used email encryption software in the world. Originally designed as a human rights tool, PGP was published for free on the Internet in 1991. This made Zimmermann the target of a three-year criminal investigation, with Zimmermann leading the charge in what became known as the first “Crypto Wars”. The government dropped its case in 1996.

Zimmermann founded PGP Inc., and is the co-founder of Silent Circle, a provider of secure communications services. He specializes in cryptography and data security, data communications, and real-time embedded systems.

Zimmermann has received numerous technical and humanitarian awards for his pioneering work in cryptography: the US Privacy Champion Award from the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Louis Brandeis Award from Privacy International, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Secure Computing Magazine, the Norbert Wiener Award from Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility for promoting the responsible use of technology, Chrysler Award for Innovation in Design, the Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He’s been inducted into the National Cyber Security Hall of Fame, the Internet Society’s Inaugural Class of the Internet Hall of Fame, the Information Systems Security Association’s ISSA Hall of Fame, the Heinz Nixdorf Museums Forum Wall of Fame, the CRN Industry Hall of Fame.

Foreign Policy Magazine named him one of the Leading Global Thinkers of 2014. In 2008 PC World named him one of the Top 50 Tech Visionaries of the last 50 years. In 2006 eWeek ranked PGP 9th in the 25 Most Influential Products introduced since the invention of the PC in 1981. In 2000 InfoWorld named him one of the Top 10 Innovators in E-business. In 1995 Newsweek named Zimmermann one of the "Net 50", the 50 most influential people on the Internet.