Gpg suite from gpg tools how to#
Gpg suite from gpg tools install#
Gpg suite from gpg tools software#

If I am looking at someone else’s private key, does the date match other things I know about this person’s identity online? For example, a key that was created very recently may be a tip-off that this is not a person’s real key. This piece of metadata should help you judge a key’s authenticity. Always verify that both the name and email on any key you create are exactly what you expect (e.g., no typos)–and do the same for any public key that comes into your possession from another person, trusted or not. It’s therefore very important to stay aware of a key’s identity attributes. But you can only be confident that another person is who they say they are if you trust the identity (name, email, etc.) attached to the key. 1 The public-private key system ensures that you can read mail that is signed or encrypted by other people. PGP encryption relies on the idea of trusted identities. This is not the case for any key that you create and control: those will listed as a pair that identifies both your public and private keys. The same will be true of any other person who shares their public key with you.

Because both of the sample keys in the screenshot (“GPG Tools Support”) and (“GPG Tools Team”) are owned by someone else, you have only their public keys.

Here are a few considerations associated with each one: For now, take note of the following attributes listed in the screenshot above. Your fresh installation of GPG tools may come with a few sample keys, which may be useful for you to refer to later as examples. You should be greeted by a screen that looks something like the following: Once you have installed GPG tools, open up the app for the first time.

Gpg suite from gpg tools install#

Since this guide is for MacOS, we will use the GPG Suite toolset.ĭownload the installer and install the full suite of tools, including “Mail” and “Keychain” and all other services.

Gpg suite from gpg tools software#

GPG is best introduced through graphical management software that simplifies the creation and management of a public/private keyset. Encrypt the contents of an email with any other user’s public key, and decrypt a message with one’s own private key.Safely send a signed email, and verify a signature from another user.Understand the difference between an email “signature” that uses encryption and full encryption of email contents.Generate a new private-public key pair using the GPG software suite.ObjectivesĪt the end of this guide, the user should be able to: This guide assumes that the user has basic familiarity with the MacOS operating system and a working email account that is logged into Apple Mail. Apple Mail (or any OS-native email software that integrates with the GPG system).Apple MacOS Catalina, version 10.15.7 or higher.For ease of initial use, we will use the graphical implementation of the GPG system offered by GPG Suite software.Īlthough this example uses Apple-based (MacOS) software for teaching purposes, graphical software exists for both Mac and Windows to accomplish these same tasks.

Gpg suite from gpg tools how to#

This guide is a practical overview for everyday users of email, covering how to send encrypted emails using the GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) system. Philip Sugg Philip Sugg home contact Learning the GPG System with GPG Suite and Apple Mail