Simplest way to generate a PGP key???

[Sutters Mill]

Hey everyone. Not sure if this is the right section but I've been asked to encrypt a message and I'm having difficulties generating my key. I'm trying to do it on ubuntu and am following this youtube guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww1oMgB4Lnk

But I can't seem to figure out how to generate a key as when I get to the part where it should generate after clicking ok nothing happens. In the video his system is called 'passwords and encryption keys' whereas mine is just 'passwords and keys'. Not sure if his is an older system or not. Can anyone explain how to do it or is there an simple idiot proof way to do so??? I can use a windows computer to try it but would prefer to keep it to ubuntu if possible. Thanks.

[jackg]

If its the password generation screen how long was the password and did they definitely match?

There might be something that means it has to be between eg 8-20 characters for example

[Sutters Mill]

They matched as it will only let your proceed of they do. I only used a 4 pass character initially just to test it. I just tried a 10 character one and it was the same.

[HCP]

I just tried this on Ubuntu 18.04... At first, nothing seemed to happen after entering the password, but then after a second or two, I see this:



It's possible that you are missing some libraries that are required for generating the GPG key... it might pay to try creating it on the command line, so you can see any errors generated... open a terminal window and type:

Code:

gpg --gen-key

Then follow the instructions... note that it might take quite a while (as in minutes) once it says:

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.

But eventually you should see something like:

Code:

gpg: key D13FDC40CA81AD27 marked as ultimately trusted
gpg: revocation certificate stored as '/home/hcp/.gnupg/openpgp-revocs.d/9D90F94ED322D4FC62C285AFD13FDC40CA81AD27.rev'
public and secret key created and signed.

pub   rsa3072 2020-09-28 [SC] [expires: 2022-09-28]
      9D90F94ED322D4FC62C285AFD13FDC40CA81AD27
uid                      Command Line Test <bob@builder.com>
sub   rsa3072 2020-09-28 [E] [expires: 2022-09-28]

And the key should be automatically added to the list in the "Passwords and Keys" application as well:

[BitMaxz]

Can you try this video below?

- How to Generate a New PGP/GPG Key from Scratch

Since the youtube video that you trying to follow was posted 2011 and maybe it won't work anymore try this video below.

- How To Use GPG Private Public Keys To Encrypt And Encrypt Files On Ubuntu Linux

[Sutters Mill]

I just tried this on Ubuntu 18.04... At first, nothing seemed to happen after entering the password, but then after a second or two, I see this:



It's possible that you are missing some libraries that are required for generating the GPG key... it might pay to try creating it on the command line, so you can see any errors generated... open a terminal window and type:

Code:

gpg --gen-key

Then follow the instructions... note that it might take quite a while (as in minutes) once it says:

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.

I tried that but all I got was the "We need to generate a lot of random bytes" and then nothing :

And the key should be automatically added to the list in the "Passwords and Keys" application as well:

I did manage to get this far before but then how do I use those to encrypt/decrypt messages as there doesn't seem to be any way to do this??? Thanks.

[mocacinno]

Well, maybe it's due to the fact i haven't used any desktop environment in a while, but i think using a gui overcomplicates things quite a bit.

The simpelest way would be

• open a terminal
• gpg --gen-key
• leave default settings, enter name + email
• chose a password

done

No need for all those gui clicks'n'misses... Just open a terminal, enter one command, follow the wizard and you're done...

[HCP]

I did manage to get this far before but then how do I use those to encrypt/decrypt messages as there doesn't seem to be any way to do this??? Thanks.

... I've been asked to encrypt a message and I'm having difficulties generating my key.

What exactly has the other party requested that you do with regards to "encrypting a message"? Are they wanting to communicate using PGP encrypted emails or IMs or something? Or have they asked that you "sign a message" using a Bitcoin address?

[Sutters Mill]

Well, maybe it's due to the fact i haven't used any desktop environment in a while, but i think using a gui overcomplicates things quite a bit.

The simpelest way would be

• open a terminal
• gpg --gen-key
• leave default settings, enter name + email
• chose a password

done

No need for all those gui clicks'n'misses... Just open a terminal, enter one command, follow the wizard and you're done...

I already tried that. See above. I managed to generate a personal PGP key but I don't know where to go from there.

I did manage to get this far before but then how do I use those to encrypt/decrypt messages as there doesn't seem to be any way to do this??? Thanks.

... I've been asked to encrypt a message and I'm having difficulties generating my key.

What exactly has the other party requested that you do with regards to "encrypting a message"? Are they wanting to communicate using PGP encrypted emails or IMs or something? Or have they asked that you "sign a message" using a Bitcoin address?

I can sign a message from a bitcoin address. I'm looking to try figure out how to encrypt and decrypt messages for communication.

[HCP]

I can sign a message from a bitcoin address. I'm looking to try figure out how to encrypt and decrypt messages for communication.

At this point, you're kinda outside the realm of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency and more into cryptography in general... Have a read of this guide and see if it helps with regards to sending/receiving encrypted emails: https://vitux.com/how-to-use-email-encryption-in-ubuntu/

This one is more generic and is for encrypting/decrypting files: https://www.linode.com/docs/security/encryption/gpg-keys-to-send-encrypted-messages/

[Husna QA]

I already tried that. See above. I managed to generate a personal PGP key but I don't know where to go from there. -snip-

For other people to communicate with you using PGP (encrypted message), you must either provide the public key (not the secret key / private key) either directly to the target person or upload it to the Key Server.

There are many Key Servers that you can use to upload a public key, for example:
https://pgp.mit.edu/; http://keyserver.ubuntu.com/ etc.

Open a terminal and type the following command (I made an example using pgp.mit.edu):

Code:

gpg --send-keys --keyserver pgp.mit.edu [key ID]

Replace [key ID] with the key ID of the PGP Key Pair that you have.
To find out the Key ID, type the following command in the terminal:

Code:

gpg --list-key

The character above your email name is what is called the key ID.

Here's an example of my public key:
https://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?search=0x58BC997445D96F68DB65C169A2CA884F183D22E9&op=index
http://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?search=0x58BC997445D96F68DB65C169A2CA884F183D22E9&fingerprint=on&op=index