In some cases, you may need to generate and manage GPG keys on Ubuntu Linux servers or desktops. As you may already know, GPG encryption helps keep files safe and secure. Using GPG encryption to encrypt your data before transfer ensures that they will not be viewed or read by anyone without a valid matching key pair. This technology works across diverse platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to generate and manage GPG keys on Ubuntu servers or desktops. When you’re ready to get GPG working on Ubuntu, follow the steps below:
How to install GnuPG
To use GPG encryptions, you will have to install software that helps generate and manage your GPG encryptions and keys. On Linux systems, a popular tool to help with GPG is GnuPG. GnuPG is a free software implementation of the OpenPGP standard that allows you to encrypt and sign your data and communications using GPG encryptions. On Ubuntu, open your command line terminal and run the commands below to install GnuPG. After installing GnuPG, run the commands below to see if it’s installed and which encryption algorithms are supported. run the commands below:
How to generate your GPG key pair
Now that GnuPG is installed, you’ll need to generate your own GPG key pair, consisting of a private and public key. The private key is your master key. It allows you to decrypt/encrypt your files and create signatures that are signed with your private key. The public key is shared with those who should open and view the content you encrypt with your private key and also verifies that the content encrypted with your private key comes from you. To generate your key pair, run the commands below: That should initial the GPG key generation process. You will be asked for your real name and email address to use to identify the key. You should see similar output as below: You’ll be prompted to type and confirm your passphrase for the private key. After that, your key pair should be generated.
How to export your public key
If you need to export and share your public key with others, you run the commands below. The public key is used to authenticate that the content encrypted by you came from you. It is also used to decrypt the content you encrypted. You can also use the commands below to export the key into a readable text file. You can then send the public key file to those who should get it.
How to encrypt and decrypt files
To encrypt a file you want to secure, you run the commands below. The public. text file becomes confidential.text.enc protected file. You should see the output below: You can now delete the public.txt file and only have the encrypted version. Decrypting Files To decrypt the confidential.txt.enc file using the public key. run the commands below: You’ll be asked to provide your passphrase to allow access to your private key to be able to decrypt the file. Enter the key to decrypt. The confidential.txt.enc file becomes public.txt. That should do it! Windows users can use Gpg4win instead. You may also like the post below:
