Phil Zimmermann
Creator of Pretty Good Privacy · United States · On the map · Academics · Born 1954 · age 72
Philip R. Zimmermann is an American computer scientist and cryptographer. He is the creator of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), the most widely used email encryption software in the world. He is also known for his work in VoIP encryption protocols, notably ZRTP and Zfone.
Phil Zimmermann is read about 74 times a day, in 23 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 11 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 113 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
2013“The natural flow of technology tends to move in the direction of making surveillance easier.”In their words11 August 2013Interview with Om Malik2012Internet Hall of FameAward1996Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional ResponsibilityAward1995EFF AwardAward1991“If privacy is outlawed, only outlaws will have privacy.”In their wordsWhy I Wrote PGP, Part of the original 1991 PGP User's Guide (updated in 1999)“At no time in the past century has public distrust of the government been so broadly distributed across the political spectrum, as it is today.”In their wordsWhy I Wrote PGP, Part of the original 1991 PGP User's Guide (updated in 1999)1954Born12 February 1954
People around Phil
Close ties
Media & music
Photos 1
Awards
About this person
Zimmermann is co-founder and Chief Scientist of the global encrypted communications firm Silent Circle.
Country
United States
Category
Academics
Type
Academic
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1954 · age 72
