Simplest way to generate a PGP key???

Husna QA

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Quote from: Sutters Mill on October 05, 2020, 03:07:12 AM

I already tried that. See above. I managed to generate a personal PGP key but I don't know where to go from there. -snip-

For other people to communicate with you using PGP (encrypted message), you must either provide the public key (not the secret key / private key) either directly to the target person or upload it to the Key Server.

There are many Key Servers that you can use to upload a public key, for example:
https://pgp.mit.edu/; http://keyserver.ubuntu.com/ etc.

Open a terminal and type the following command (I made an example using pgp.mit.edu):

Code:

gpg --send-keys --keyserver pgp.mit.edu [key ID]

Replace [key ID] with the key ID of the PGP Key Pair that you have.
To find out the Key ID, type the following command in the terminal:

Code:

gpg --list-key

The character above your email name is what is called the key ID.

Here's an example of my public key:
https://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?search=0x58BC997445D96F68DB65C169A2CA884F183D22E9&op=index
http://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?search=0x58BC997445D96F68DB65C169A2CA884F183D22E9&fingerprint=on&op=index

HCP

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Quote from: Sutters Mill on October 05, 2020, 03:07:12 AM

I can sign a message from a bitcoin address. I'm looking to try figure out how to encrypt and decrypt messages for communication.

At this point, you're kinda outside the realm of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency and more into cryptography in general... Have a read of this guide and see if it helps with regards to sending/receiving encrypted emails: https://vitux.com/how-to-use-email-encryption-in-ubuntu/

This one is more generic and is for encrypting/decrypting files: https://www.linode.com/docs/security/encryption/gpg-keys-to-send-encrypted-messages/

Sutters Mill

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Quote from: mocacinno on September 29, 2020, 04:02:32 AM

Well, maybe it's due to the fact i haven't used any desktop environment in a while, but i think using a gui overcomplicates things quite a bit.

The simpelest way would be

open a terminal
gpg --gen-key
leave default settings, enter name + email
chose a password

done

No need for all those gui clicks'n'misses... Just open a terminal, enter one command, follow the wizard and you're done...

I already tried that. See above. I managed to generate a personal PGP key but I don't know where to go from there.

Quote from: HCP on September 30, 2020, 01:04:08 AM

Quote from: Sutters Mill on September 29, 2020, 03:50:25 AM

I did manage to get this far before but then how do I use those to encrypt/decrypt messages as there doesn't seem to be any way to do this??? Thanks.

Quote from: Sutters Mill on September 28, 2020, 10:56:57 AM

... I've been asked to encrypt a message and I'm having difficulties generating my key.

What exactly has the other party requested that you do with regards to "encrypting a message"? Huh

Are they wanting to communicate using PGP encrypted emails or IMs or something? Or have they asked that you "sign a message" using a Bitcoin address? Huh

I can sign a message from a bitcoin address. I'm looking to try figure out how to encrypt and decrypt messages for communication.

HCP

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Quote from: Sutters Mill on September 29, 2020, 03:50:25 AM

I did manage to get this far before but then how do I use those to encrypt/decrypt messages as there doesn't seem to be any way to do this??? Thanks.

Quote from: Sutters Mill on September 28, 2020, 10:56:57 AM

... I've been asked to encrypt a message and I'm having difficulties generating my key.

What exactly has the other party requested that you do with regards to "encrypting a message"? Huh

Are they wanting to communicate using PGP encrypted emails or IMs or something? Or have they asked that you "sign a message" using a Bitcoin address? Huh

mocacinno

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Well, maybe it's due to the fact i haven't used any desktop environment in a while, but i think using a gui overcomplicates things quite a bit.

The simpelest way would be

open a terminal
gpg --gen-key
leave default settings, enter name + email
chose a password

done

No need for all those gui clicks'n'misses... Just open a terminal, enter one command, follow the wizard and you're done...

Sutters Mill

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Quote from: HCP on September 28, 2020, 05:36:25 PM

I just tried this on Ubuntu 18.04... At first, nothing seemed to happen after entering the password, but then after a second or two, I see this:

It's possible that you are missing some libraries that are required for generating the GPG key... it might pay to try creating it on the command line, so you can see any errors generated... open a terminal window and type:

Code:

gpg --gen-key

Then follow the instructions... note that it might take quite a while (as in minutes) once it says:

Quote

We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform
some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the
disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number
generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.

I tried that but all I got was the "We need to generate a lot of random bytes" and then nothing :

Quote from: HCP on September 28, 2020, 05:36:25 PM

And the key should be automatically added to the list in the "Passwords and Keys" application as well:

I did manage to get this far before but then how do I use those to encrypt/decrypt messages as there doesn't seem to be any way to do this??? Thanks.

BitMaxz

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Can you try this video below?

- How to Generate a New PGP/GPG Key from Scratch

Since the youtube video that you trying to follow was posted 2011 and maybe it won't work anymore try this video below.

- How To Use GPG Private Public Keys To Encrypt And Encrypt Files On Ubuntu Linux

HCP

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I just tried this on Ubuntu 18.04... At first, nothing seemed to happen after entering the password, but then after a second or two, I see this:

It's possible that you are missing some libraries that are required for generating the GPG key... it might pay to try creating it on the command line, so you can see any errors generated... open a terminal window and type:

Code:

gpg --gen-key

Then follow the instructions... note that it might take quite a while (as in minutes) once it says:

Quote

We need to generate a lot of random bytes. It is a good idea to perform
some other action (type on the keyboard, move the mouse, utilize the
disks) during the prime generation; this gives the random number
generator a better chance to gain enough entropy.

But eventually you should see something like:

Code:

gpg: key D13FDC40CA81AD27 marked as ultimately trusted
gpg: revocation certificate stored as '/home/hcp/.gnupg/openpgp-revocs.d/9D90F94ED322D4FC62C285AFD13FDC40CA81AD27.rev'
public and secret key created and signed.

pub rsa3072 2020-09-28 [SC] [expires: 2022-09-28]
9D90F94ED322D4FC62C285AFD13FDC40CA81AD27
uid Command Line Test
sub rsa3072 2020-09-28 [E] [expires: 2022-09-28]

And the key should be automatically added to the list in the "Passwords and Keys" application as well:

Sutters Mill

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They matched as it will only let your proceed of they do. I only used a 4 pass character initially just to test it. I just tried a 10 character one and it was the same.

jackg

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If its the password generation screen how long was the password and did they definitely match?

There might be something that means it has to be between eg 8-20 characters for example

Sutters Mill

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Hey everyone. Not sure if this is the right section but I've been asked to encrypt a message and I'm having difficulties generating my key. I'm trying to do it on ubuntu and am following this youtube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww1oMgB4Lnk

But I can't seem to figure out how to generate a key as when I get to the part where it should generate after clicking ok nothing happens. In the video his system is called 'passwords and encryption keys' whereas mine is just 'passwords and keys'. Not sure if his is an older system or not. Can anyone explain how to do it or is there an simple idiot proof way to do so??? I can use a windows computer to try it but would prefer to keep it to ubuntu if possible. Thanks.

Topic: Simplest way to generate a PGP key??? (Read 237 times)