Manage GPG Keys

GPG Directory Permissions

find ~/.gnupg -type f -execdir chmod 600 {} \; # Set 600 for files
find ~/.gnupg -type d -execdir chmod 700 {} \; # Set 700 for directories

Generate GPG Key

Create a key pair:
```
gpg2 --expert --full-gen-key
```

For general use most people want:

RSA (Sign Only) and RSA (Encrypt only) key
Default 2048 Value Keysize. ¹⁾
An expiration date. A year is good enough for the average user. Can be extended without having to re-issue a new key.
Name and email address
NO optional comment.
A secure passphrase

List GPG Keys

List Public Keys

List keys in your public key ring:
```
gpg --list-keys
```

List Private Keys

List keys in your secret key ring:
```
gpg --list-secret-keys
```

Export GPG Keys

In order to send keys to other users or backup your keys, you need to export them.

Export Public Key

To stdout

Generate an ASCII version of your public key (eg. to distribure it by email):
```
gpg --armor --export <user-id>
```

To a File

Generate an ASCII version of your public key (eg. to distribure it by email):
```
gpg --output public.key --armor --export <user-id>
```

Export Private Key

If you want to import the key on another computer to encrypt/sign, you will need the private key.

List private keys:
```
gpg2 --list-secret-keys
```

To stdout

Generate an ASCII version of your public key (eg. to distribute it by email):
```
gpg --armor --export-secret-key <user-id>
```

To a File

Generate an ASCII version of your public key (eg. to distribute it by email):
```
gpg --output public.key --armor --export-secret-key <user-id>
```

Send GPG Keys to a Keyserver

Or use a keyserver to share your key:

gpg --send-keys <user-id>
gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --send-keys <user-id>
gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --send-keys <user-id>
gpg --keyserver keys.gnupg.net --send-keys <user-id>
gpg --keyserver pool.sks-keyservers.net --send-keys <user-id>

Import GPG Keys

In order to encrypt messages to others, as well as to verivy their signatures, you need their public key.

Import from a File

Import a key:
```
gpg --import public.key
```

Import from a Keyserver

To find out details of a key on the keyserver without importing it:
```
gpg --search-keys <user-id>
```
To import a key from a key server:
```
gpg --recv-keys <user-id>
```

Import from a Smart Card

Check card for keys:
```
gpg --card-status
```

Export keys from card:

gpg --card-edit
 
# Then enter
fetch
 
# Then quit
quit

Trust GPG Keys

The ownertrust reflects the level of trust, which you put into how thoroughly you think, the key owner acts when signing other keys. Trust-levels are not set for keys but for the certain key owners.

Adjusting the ownertrust will not affect the validity of the key you are setting it for. It only concerns third party keys, which then may be signed by your friends. Depending on the ownertrust you have set for your friends keys, their signatures on keys you have in GPG Keychain, will have different implications.

Edit a key:
```
gpg --edit-key [key-id]
```

Set trust level:

gpg> trust
Please decide how far you trust this user to correctly verify other users' keys
(by looking at passports, checking fingerprints from different sources, etc.)

  1 = I don't know or won't say
  2 = I do NOT trust
  3 = I trust marginally
  4 = I trust fully
  5 = I trust ultimately
  m = back to the main menu

Your decision?

Unknown (1)

Nothing is known about the owner's judgement in key signing. Keys on your public keyring that you do not own initially have this trust level.

The default state. It means, no ownertrust has been set yet. The key is not trusted.

Never/None (2)

The owner is known to improperly sign other keys.

Trust-level is identical to 'Unknown / Undefined' i.e. the key is not trusted. But in this case, you actively state, to never trust the key in question. That means, you know that the key owner is not accurately verifying other keys before signing them.

Marginal (3)

The owner understands the implications of key signing and properly validates keys before signing them.

Will make a key show as valid, if it has been signed by at least three keys which you set to 'Marginal' trust-level. Example: If you set Alice's, Bob's and Peter's key to 'Marginal' and they all sign Ed's key, Ed's key will be valid. Due to the complexity of this status, we do not recommend using it.

Full (4)

The owner has an excellent understanding of key signing, and his signature on a key would be as good as your own.

Used for keys, which you trust to sign other keys. That means, if Alice's key is signed by your Buddy Bob, whose key you set the ownertrust to Full, Alice's key will be trusted. You should only be using Full ownertrust after verifying and signing Bob's key.

Ultimate (5)

Only used for your own keys. You trust this key 'per se'. Any message signed with that key, will be trusted. This is also the reason why any key from a friend, that is signed by you, will also show as valid (green), even though you did not change the ownertrust of the signed key. The signed key will be valid due to the ultimate ownertrust of your own key.

Renew GPG Keys

So, now after the year has passed, we need to renew the sub-keys so they will not expire.

Edit key:
```
gpg2 --edit-key <user-id>
```
Expire:
```
gpg> expire
```
Set expiration length of the primary key:
```
Key is valid for? (0) 0
```
Select all sub keys:
```
gpg> key 1
gpg> key 2
gpg> key 3
```
Expire the sub keys:
```
gpg> expire
```
Set expiration length of sub keys:
```
Key is valid for? (0) 1y
```
Save changes:
```
gpg> save
```

Update the keys on keyserver

Update the keys on keyservers:

gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --send-keys <user-id>
gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --send-keys <user-id>
gpg --keyserver keys.gnupg.net --send-keys <user-id>
gpg --keyserver pool.sks-keyservers.net --send-keys <user-id>

Delete GPG Keys

List keys:
```
gpg2 --list-keys
```

Delete key:

gpg2 --delete-key <keyID> [<keyID> <keyID>...]

When you generate keys then both public and private keys are generated.

Delete private key:
```
gpg --delete-secret-key <keyID>
```
Then delete public key:
```
gpg2 --delete-key <keyID>
```

Links

¹⁾

External Link

Chuck Nemeth

Table of Contents

Manage GPG Keys

GPG Directory Permissions

Generate GPG Key

List GPG Keys

List Public Keys

List Private Keys

Export GPG Keys

Export Public Key

To stdout

To a File

Export Private Key

To stdout

To a File

Send GPG Keys to a Keyserver

Import GPG Keys

Import from a File

Import from a Keyserver

Import from a Smart Card

Trust GPG Keys

Unknown (1)

Never/None (2)

Marginal (3)

Full (4)

Ultimate (5)

Renew GPG Keys

Update the keys on keyserver

Delete GPG Keys

Links