Do any of you ever use encryption for files or messages?
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Can you check a PGP signed message? -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 8.1 - not licensed for commercial use: www.pgp.com iQA/AwUBQmzqQzuo9MMQIBzHEQKevgCeJrIa7MSaqJ44ffc0ZwDEz6hw8IEAn2MH uWqEOQSoCV4wL/Kjd/XDhwNx =62Di -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
Have you ever generated a PGP key?
For those unfamiliar with the concept, PGP is a 2-key encryption method which uses a pair of keys to allow secure communication between two parties. Instead of a password (which could be guessed or compromised) the sender encrypts a transmission with the receiver’s public key. The receiver’s private key can be used to decrypt the message.
A sender can use multiple public keys to encrypt a message, enabling more than one person to decrypt the message with their own private keys. The public keys can be (and are) shared freely out in the open because they are only used for encryption. You only have to protect your private key.
My PGP public key is on my websig (and has been there for a while now). And I’d be happy to verify the fingerprint for anyone who wants to do so over the phone or via IM. (The key is also still available on at least a couple of key servers). I wouldn’t mind getting a few people to sign the thing as well, to establish a web of trust.
Let me know what you think about encryption, whether you ever use any, and what you think of PGP.
Posted by James at April 25, 2005 8:57 AMI've had a key for about 8 years now, but rarely use it. A bunch of us used it heavily after 911 because we were concerned with the govt getting into everything (yea, paranoid, but its healthy!) but we all lapsed.
I think encryption is a great idea, and definately a way to avoid spam, since if all my contacts used it, anything that wasnt decodable to words (easy to do automaticaly with a mailer script) id toss, and never see the spam that manages to get through my filters.
Unfortunately, id probably never get my folks, or half the semi-computer-literate peope I know to use it.
Posted by: Bob McCown at April 25, 2005 10:13 AMOK, I have my pubkey up now:
http://rmccown.org/pubkey.html
Posted by: Bob McCown at April 25, 2005 11:11 AMActually, I think that your public key is one of only 2 or three that I have (from people I know).
Which is funny, since we've never met in person.
Posted by: James at April 25, 2005 11:14 AMCan I trust you? Do trust Mike? AIE!!! Its so confusing, its all a government plot to get access to my computer!!
/dons tinfoil hat
Posted by: Bob McCown at April 25, 2005 11:38 AMWhere do you get your tin foil? I've only been able to find aluminum foil locally :-)
Posted by: Jim at April 25, 2005 12:17 PMJim is the other person whose public key I have (if he hasn't revoked it).
And Jim I've met in person. He's even signed my key!
Posted by: James at April 25, 2005 12:21 PMSure, you'd LIKE me to tell you where I get my tinfoil, wouldnt you?
Posted by: Bob McCown at April 25, 2005 12:27 PMI support encryption but I've never been able to think of a good reason to use PGP. I suppose it would be useful for love letters.
Posted by: Mike at April 25, 2005 2:02 PM