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Title: GPG2 cheatsheet
Author: Solène
Date: 06 September 2019
Tags: security
Description:
## Introduction
I don't use gpg a lot but it seems the only tool out there for
encrypting data
which "works" and widely used.
So this is my personal cheatsheet for everyday use of gpg.
In this post, I use the command `gpg2` which is the binary to GPG
version 2.
On your system, "gpg" command could be gpg2 or gpg1.
You can use `gpg --version `if you want to check the real version
behind gpg
binary.
In your *~/.profile* file you may need the following line:
export GPG_TTY=$(tty)
## Install GPG
The real name of GPG is GnuPG, so depending on your system the package
can be
either gpg2, gpg, gnupg, gnugp2 etc...
On OpenBSD, you can install it with: `pkg_add gnupg--%gnupg2`
## GPG Principle using private/public keys
- YOU make a private and a public key (associated with a mail)
- YOU give the public key to people
- PEOPLE import your public key into they keyring
- PEOPLE use your public key from the keyring
- YOU will need your password everytime
I think gpg can do much more, but read the manual for that :)
## Initialization
We need to create a public and a private key.
solene$ gpg2 --gen-key
gpg (GnuPG) 2.2.12; Copyright (C) 2018 Free Software Foundation,
Inc.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
generation dialog.
validate
with "O" if you are okay with the input. You will get ask for a
passphrase
after.
Email address: [email protected]
You selected this USER-ID:
"Solene <[email protected]>"
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.
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.
gpg: key 368E580748D5CA75 marked as ultimately trusted
gpg: revocation certificate stored as
'/home/solene/.gnupg/openpgp-revocs.d/7914C6A7439EADA52643933B368E58074
8D5CA75.rev'
public and secret key created and signed.
7914C6A7439EADA52643933B368E580748D5CA75
uid Solene <[email protected]>
sub rsa2048 2019-09-06 [E] [expires: 2021-09-05]
The key will expire in 2 years, but this is okay.
This is a good thing, if you stop using the key, it will die silently
at it
expiration time.
If you still use it, you will be able to extend the expiracy time and
people
will be able to notice you still use that key.
## Export the public key
If someone asks your GPG key, this is what they want:
gpg2 --armor --export [email protected] > solene.asc
## Import a public key
Import the public key:
gpg2 --import solene.asc
If you want to mark this signature as trusted:
gpg --edit-key FINGERPRINT_HERE
> sign
# do you want to sign? (y/n): y
> save
## Delete a public key
In case someone change their public key, you will want to delete it to
import a
new one, replace $FINGERPRINT by the actual fingerprint of the public
key.
gpg2 --delete-keys $FINGERPRINT
## Encrypt a file for someone
If you want to send file *picture.jpg* to remote@mail then use the
command:
gpg2 --encrypt --recipient [email protected] picture.jpg >
picture.jpg.gpg
You can now send picture.jpg.gpg to remote@mail who will be able to
read the
file with his/her private key.
You can use `--armor`` parameter to make the output plaintext, so you
can put
it into a mail or a text file.
## Decrypt a file
Easy!
gpg2 --decrypt image.jpg.gpg > image.jpg
## Get public key fingerprint
The fingerprint is a short string made out of your public key and can
be
embedded in a mail (often as a signature) or anywhere.
It allows comparing a public key you received from someone with the
fingerprint
that you may find in mailing list archives, twitter, a html page etc..
if the
person spreaded it somewhere. This allow to multiple check the
authenticity of
the public key you received.
it looks like:
4398 3BAD 3EDC B35C 9B8F 2442 8CD4 2DFD 57F0 A909
This is my real key fingerprint, so if I send you my public key, you
can use
the fingerprint from this page to check it matches the key you
received!
You can obtain your fingerprint using the following command:
solene@t480 ~ $ gpg2 --fingerprint
pub rsa4096 2018-06-08 [SC]
4398 3BAD 3EDC B35C 9B8F 2442 8CD4 2DFD 57F0 A909
uid [ ultime ] XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
sub rsa4096 2018-06-08 [E]
## Add a new mail / identity
If for some reason, you need to add another mail to your GPG key (like
personal/work keys) you can create a new identity with the new mail.
Type `gpg2 --edit-key [email protected]` and then in the prompt,
type `adduid`
and answer questions.
You can now export the public key with a different identity.
## List known keys
If you want to get the list of keys you imported, you can use
gpg2 -k
## Testing
If you want to do some tests, I'd recommend making new users on your
system,
exchanges their keys and try to encrypt a message from one user to
another.
I have a few spare users on my system on which I can ssh locally for
various
tests, it is always useful.
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