Run the following from a linux based operating system (e.g. debian) and accept the defaults. <br>Note, it may take some time to generate the random information. gpg –gen-key

To see all the keys - yours and your friends etc.: gpg –list-keys

Example of above: /home/you/.gnupg/pubring.gpg

pub 1024D/32j38dk2 2001-06-20 you you@your-address.com sub 1024g/289sklj3 2001-06-20 2002-11-14 <br> All the public keys you know are stored in the file: ~/.gnupg/pubring.gpg pub = Public Key Public Key ID (UID) = 32j38dk2

To send your key (public) to a person: -o is for a file name (steve) -a is for an ascii file gpg –export -o steve -a UID

To import a key manually from someone: gpg –import filename

Upload Public Key to key server: gpg –send-keys –keyserver wwwkeys.pgp.net UID

To edit keys - Typically used for signing keys <br>(cant change name or comment, only password and expiry) <br>UID = See example above gpg –edit-key UID

To Search for Keys: <br>(This Will also allow you to download and include the person) gpg –search-key –keyserver wwwkeys.pgp.net stephen burke

To Create a gpg fingerprint so you can PRINT out your Key fingerprint: <br>This allows you to take away to a “Key Signing Party” and sign other keys verifying the person's identity using two forms of id. gpg –fingerprint

Adding in a User ID: gpg –edit-key UID uid n //Toggles selection of user id with index n. Use 0 to deselect all. list See the * beside the Current User id. After current ID is selected type: primary That should be it. Upload keys with command above.

See original: http://www.hants.lug.org.uk/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?LinuxHints/KeySigning gpg –search-key –keyserver wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net firstname lastname #Send a signed and encrypted email, asking for a signed reply. When a signed reply is obtained, then: gpg –ask-cert-level –sign-key UID gpg –send-key UID

URL's:<br> http://webber.dewinter.com/gnupg_howto/english/GPGMiniHowto.html<br> http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution/doc/x1700.html<br> http://www.nmlug.org/faqs/gen-gpg-key.html

So my gpg key recently expired and I was wondering why pine was giving out to me saying “no default key available”!

There is a great guide at: http://www.g-loaded.eu/2010/11/01/change-expiration-date-gpg-key/

Some of the main points: gpg –list-keys gpg –edit-key UID {type} key 0 expire //enter new expiry date {type} key 1 //enter new expiry date save gpg –keyserver pgp.mit.edu –send-keys UID

After updates using gpg via pine threw up the error: gpg: public key decryption failed: Inappropriate ioctl for device The solution: export GPG_TTY=$(tty) Kudos to: https://zaplanincan.wordpress.com/tag/decryption-failed/