[SOLVED] gpg - Can't check signature: public key not found when decrypting file

ilesterg · 02-12-2014, 01:50 AM

Hi everyone,

I am getting this error message "Can't check signature: public key not found" when trying to decrypt a file.

Code:

server:awesomeuser /home/awesomeuser/myfolder>gpg -v --decrypt FILENAME.pdf.gpg > FILENAME.PDF 
gpg: WARNING: using insecure memory! 
gpg: please see http://www.gnupg.org/faq.html for more information 
gpg: public key is 3FXXXXXX 
gpg: public key is B0XXXXXX 
gpg: using subkey B0XXXXXX instead of primary key 9EXXXXXX 
gpg: encrypted with ELG-E key, ID 3FXXXXXX 
gpg: using subkey B0XXXXXX instead of primary key 9EXXXXXX 
gpg: encrypted with 1024-bit ELG-E key, ID B0XXXXXX, created 2004-10-20 
      "awesomeKeyname (awesomeKeyname GPG key)" 
gpg: AES encrypted data 
gpg: original file name='FILENAME.pdf' 
gpg: Signature made Mon Jan 20 17:10:15 MEZ 2014 using DSA key ID C6XXXXXX 
gpg: Can't check signature: public key not found

Code:

gpg --list-keys

would show B0XXXXXX as the subkey (with primary key 9EXXXXXX), which is correct. I am concerned with the following lines:

Code:

gpg: public key is 3FXXXXXX
Signature made....using DSA key ID C6XXXXXX

What are these? I am not familiar yet with signing keys (which, in this case, sounds like there is another key used.) If my theory is correct, do I also need to install the public key of C6XXXXXX in my public keyring?

Cheers!

pingwinowiewc · 02-12-2014, 04:07 AM

gpc stores keys in:

public keys -> /user/.gpg/pubic
private -> /user/.gpg/private

so, try switching key-type, than re-run gpg

ilesterg · 02-12-2014, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingwinowiewc

gpc stores keys in:

public keys -> /user/.gpg/pubic
private -> /user/.gpg/private

so, try switching key-type, than re-run gpg

Why would I wan't to do that?

ilesterg · 02-12-2014, 09:52 AM

Ouch.

Apparently, the decryption is working, and the message

Code:

gpg: Can't check signature: public key not found

is just informational.