GPG Procedure

[last updated: 2026-08-30]
GnuPG encryption home page
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ROUGH, INCOMPLETE, EDIT IN PROCESS......

Steps to Create and Use Encryption:
• Requirements:
  • GnuGPG program installed on your system:
    should already be installed on most recent Linux distributions
    to confirm, execute:
    $ gpg -version

    if it's not installed...

    ? some version of apt get?

  • An email address you want to associate with your encryption keys.

  • Decide on a user name to associate with your keys.

  • Decide how long you want your keys to last:
    You will be prompted to enter an expiration date when you create your keys.

  • Decide on a passphrase to use with your keys:

    but...
    Function:
    Secures the private key:
    It keeps your secret key safe on your computer.
    If someone steals your files, they cannot use your key without knowing this password.
    Verifies ownership:
    It ensures that only you can approve actions tied to your digital identity.
    Usage:
    Signing data:
    You type the passphrase when you sign a file, email, or Git commit to prove it genuinely came from you.
    Decrypting messages:
    You type the passphrase when someone sends you an encrypted message so GPG can unlock your private key and let you read the text.
    Temporary caching:
    Programs like gpg-agent can remember your passphrase for a short time so you do not have to type it for every single action.

    can also be used as a search parameter to find a specific key on your computer???

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• Generate your key pairs:
  This will create:
      your public key
      your private key
      a fingerprint
      a revocation certificate
  • First check to see if you already have keys loaded on your computer:
    $ gpg --list-keys --keyid-format LONG

    If you have previously defined keys that have expired...
        you may want to delete them...
        can you edit them to extend the expiration?...
    If they are still valid (unexpired) you'll want to define your new keys using different passphrases.

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