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Pretty Good Privacy or PGP is a cryptographic method for communicating privately over the Internet. It encrypts data and provides cryptographic privacy and authentication for online communication. It is frequently used to encrypt documents, emails, and files to improve email security. Data compression, hashing, and public-key cryptography are all used in PGP encryption. PGP also verifies the sender’s identity and ensures that the message was not tampered with while in transit. It also encrypts data being exchanged across networks using symmetric and asymmetric keys. It combines both private and public-key cryptography features. It uses a different encryption algorithm at every step, and a username and email are associated with each public key. Working of PGP EncryptionPGP is a type of hybrid cryptography. PGP combines the best features of both symmetric and public-key cryptography in one bundle. When a user encrypts plaintext with PGP, the plaintext is compressed first. Data compression reduces transmission time and disc space use while also improving cryptographic security. Most cryptanalysis techniques use patterns present in plaintext to exploit the cipher. Compression increases cryptanalysis resistance by reducing the patterns in plaintext (Files with very small sizes are not compressed). PGP generates a session key, which is a secret key and is generated only once. This key generates a random number from the movement of your cursor and the keystrokes you type. This session key is used to encrypt the plaintext with a very secure and fast symmetric encryption algorithm, and the output is ciphertext. The session key is then encrypted with the recipient’s public key after the data has been encrypted. Sender Side ProcessThe decryption of encrypted data works in reverse. The temporary session key can be recovered using the recipient’s private key, which is then used to decrypt the ciphertext encrypted with symmetric cryptography. The two encryption methods are combined to give you the convenience of public-key encryption with the speed of symmetric encryption. Public key encryption is much faster than conventional encryption. In turn, public-key encryption solves key distribution and data transfer issues. When both are used in combination, performance and key distribution improve without compromising security. Use Cases of PGP EncryptionThe major uses of PGP encryption are:
Encrypt Data: PGP can be used to encrypt files. PGP offers a highly secure solution of encrypting data at rest, especially when combined with a Threat Detection and Response Solution. The algorithm used by PGP – typically the RSA algorithm – is nearly unbreakable. This technique is so safe as it has been employed in high-profile malware like the CryptoLocker virus. Encrypt Emails: PGP is mainly used to send encrypted emails. Activists, journalists, and others who deal with sensitive data were the primary users of PGP in its early years. PGP’s popularity has grown at a rapid pace. As more individuals become aware of how much data corporations and governments collect, many people are now using the standard to keep their personal information private. Identity Verification: PGP can also be used for email verification. For
example, if a person is doubtful about the identity of someone sending them a message, they can use a Digital Signature in combination with PGP to authenticate it. Pros of PGP EncryptionBenefits of using PGP encryption are:
Cons of PGP EncryptionSome limitations of PGP Encryption are:
How to Create PGP Key PairPrerequisite: In this article, we discuss how PGP key pair can be generated using GnuPG. You can download GnuPG from the given link: https://gpg4win.org/get-gpg4win.html Follow the steps below to generate PGP key pair: 1. Open the Command Prompt (cmd) as Administrator. 2. Execute the command below to create a key pair: 3. Now, It prompts with the below configurations based on the information provided by the requestor:
4. Export the Public and Private Keys:
It will prompt for the password that you enter in Step 3.g. Note: Both Public and Private keys will be saved in the directory where the export commands are executed. About the AuthorShorya GoelShorya Goel is a Consultant at Encryption Consulting, working with PKIs, HSMs, and working as a consultant with high-profile clients. What is required before GnuPG can create an encryption key pair?You must also choose a key size. The size of a DSA key must be between 512 and 1024 bits, and an ElGamal key may be of any size. GnuPG, however, requires that keys be no smaller than 768 bits.
Which of the following refers to the free encryption software based on the OpenPGP standard that uses both symmetric and asymmetric encryption?GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG or GPG) is a free-software replacement for Symantec's PGP cryptographic software suite. The software is compliant with RFC 4880, the IETF standards-track specification of OpenPGP. Modern versions of PGP are interoperable with GnuPG and other OpenPGP-compliant systems.
Which of the following refers to the free encryption software based on the OpenPGP standard?GnuPG is a complete and free implementation of the OpenPGP standard as defined by RFC4880 (also known as PGP). GnuPG allows you to encrypt and sign your data and communications; it features a versatile key management system, along with access modules for all kinds of public key directories.
What are GPG keys used for?GPG, or GNU Privacy Guard, is a public key cryptography implementation. This allows for the secure transmission of information between parties and can be used to verify that the origin of a message is genuine.
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