WTF is a pgp key?

jon_k · 07-26-2003, 04:35 AM

I usually see in usenet or something emails with like
-------------
PGP Key = s87e79xgbhie389d34gru3deg903dte89df3
-------------

what's the purpose of it?

XavierP · 07-26-2003, 04:51 AM

PGP stands for Pretty Good Privacy. It is an encryption program which uses a public and private key. You exchabge keys with other people and only those people will be able to read your encrypted mail, docs, etc.

The PGP homepage is here.

The main Linux one is GPGP - Gnu Pretty Good Privacy. Do a Google search for downloads, howtos, etc.

lfur · 07-26-2003, 05:42 AM

XavierP,

well actually it's gnupg (gnu privacy guard)

. All the info can be found on www.gnupg.org

XavierP · 07-26-2003, 05:45 AM

That'll teach me to actually go and find the info rather than just guess!

Have used PGP, never used GPGP - is it easy to use? I understand there are frontends to it, is that true?

jon_k · 07-26-2003, 06:04 AM

Quote:

>PGP stands for Pretty Good Privacy. It is an encryption program which uses a public and private key. You exchabge keys with other people and only those people will be able to read your encrypted mail, docs, etc.

OK so i'll be reading usenet -- then someone will be like

Code:

To cure the common cold soak your nose in warm water with 
tons of salt in it.... blah blah yda9r3f8d
3dfh3o  And thats how you cure it!!

- Sincerely,  Bob Bobby
- Common Cold Research Institute
>>>> BEGIN PGP CODE >>>>>>>>>>
CODE=83t7uri3inh0ebdb09deb9deb90
de--nd-n83dbt70dvtr69dvt90d3
>>>> END PGP CODE >>>>>>>>>>

I mean if he wanted to encrypt the cure for the cold -- why did he paste an unencrypted copy of it right above the encrypted copy... that defeats the point

Unless the pgp code said 'haha just kidding, it doesnt cure the cold warts, it makes it worse!' or something...

Thanks...

XavierP · 07-26-2003, 06:14 AM

You can use your key as a signature which means that everyone (with PGP or GPGP) can import it and use it.

jon_k · 07-26-2003, 08:55 AM

Why would you want to import someones signature and use it.... why not create a unique one? Is the pgp signature used for identity?

XavierP · 07-26-2003, 09:06 AM

Your signature identifies you to another system. So, if you wanted to send me an encrypted message, you would need to send your signature first. Your signature is also used by PGP to encrypt and decrypt the message.