PGP and GPG keys
last edited Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:21:40 GMT
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The use and understanding of Pretty Good Privacy as an encryption standard is misunderstood, even among professionals and whistleblowers. Phil Zimmerman developed PGP encryption software in 1991. It functions as a public encryption system where two individuals need each others' respective public key to communicate. Open PGP refers to this standard, gpg -not the non-free software.
You sign with your private key aand encrypt with the recepients public key. The recepient will decrypt with their private key.
GNUpg direct link to this section
GPG is a open source implementation of Open PGP. Cipher CAST5 is used by default.
Create a Keypair direct link to this section
gpg --gen-key
Encrypting Files direct link to this section
gpg --encrypt --recipient receiversname filename.txt
A file with the .asc will be generated. The filename can also be specified after the output.
gpg --armour --output myoutfile --symmetric my_file
Decrypting Files direct link to this section
This will only display the message in the command line and not to disk:
gpg --decrypt filename.txt.gpg
Exporting Public Keys direct link to this section
gpg --export --armor youremail@example.com > publickey.asc
Exporting a Secret Key direct link to this section
gpg --export-secret-key -a "User Name" > private.key
#ascii armoured
gpg --output private.pgp --armor --export-secret-key username@email
#import
gpg --allow-secret-key-import --import private.key
Backups direct link to this section
gpg -o private.gpg --export-options backup --export-secret-keys myemail@example.com
Restore a Key
gpg --import-options restore --import private.gpg
#edit
gpg --edit-key email@example.com
View Keyring direct link to this section
gpg --list-keys
For secret keys:
gpg --list-secret-keys
Import Public Key direct link to this section
This applies to public keys that may be sharded or downloaded through keyservers.
gpg --import <filename>
Open Manual direct link to this section
gpg --help
PGP direct link to this section
Original software is developed by Symantec.
Create a keypair direct link to this section
pgp -kg