Re: [Security-Discuss] Security newbie - gpg key & usage question ?

On Sunday 13 of March 2005 16:15, RickSisler wrote:
> I am wondering about practical uses of gpg keys.
> I have a personal gpg key that I sign email with, it is on a
> keyserver. I am just a home user, so I haven't ever send encrypted
> email to another party but, as I understand this, the key on the
> keyserver is a public key but if I want to encrypt a file on my HD
> can someone with my public key read this file ?

Hi,

encrypt with your public key - then only your private key can be used for 
decryption. 

With signing it is the other way round - you sign (encrypt) with your private 
key but anyone can check (decrypt) using your public key.

But you don't have to worry about this much - gpg does this for you. 
gpg --sign uses private key
gpp --encrypt uses your public key

But be warned -- if you encrypt for yourself and someone gets access to your 
encrypted files, chances are they also got your private key -- and though 
this is protected by a password, it is much easier to break this password 
protection than to break the encryption itself.

Hope this helps,
Lada

-- 
    ~       Ladislav Strojil, MFF UK
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