Current File : //usr/share/help/C/seahorse/pgp-create.page
<page xmlns="http://projectmallard.org/1.0/"
xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its"
xmlns:ui = "http://projectmallard.org/ui/1.0/"
type="topic" style="task"
id="pgp-create">
<info>
<link type="guide" xref="index#pgp-keys" group="#first"/>
<revision version="0.5" date="2013-02-16" status="review"/>
<revision version="3.32.0" date="2019-03-19" status="review"/>
<include href="legal.xml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"/>
<credit type="author copyright">
<name>Jim Campbell</name>
<email its:translate="no">jwcampbell@gmail.com</email>
<years>2013</years>
</credit>
<credit type="author copyright">
<name>Aruna Sankaranarayanan</name>
<email its:translate="no">aruna.evam@gmail.com</email>
<years>2013</years>
</credit>
<credit type="editor copyright">
<name>Hashem Nasarat</name>
<email its:translate="no">hashem@riseup.net</email>
<years>2014</years>
</credit>
<desc>Create and use GnuPG keys for encrypting and signing emails.</desc>
</info>
<title>Create PGP keys</title>
<p>To make a new PGP key:</p>
<steps>
<item>
<p>Press the <gui style="button">+</gui> button in the top-left corner of the window.</p>
</item>
<item>
<p>Select <gui>GPG Key</gui> from the list.</p>
</item>
<item>
<p>Enter your full name in the <gui>Full Name</gui> field.</p>
</item>
<item>
<p>Optionally, add your email address and a comment to describe the
key.</p>
</item>
<item>
<p>Press <gui>Create</gui>.</p>
</item>
<item>
<p>In the password dialog, enter a password for the key. Retype the
password to confirm your choice.</p>
</item>
<item>
<p>Press <gui style="button">OK</gui> to finish.</p>
</item>
</steps>
<p><app>Passwords and Keys</app> will take some time to generate your key.
While your key is being created, move your mouse around, press some keys
on your keyboard, or browse the web. This will help <app>Passwords and
Keys</app> to create a truly random key. The key will be listed under
<gui>GnuPG keys</gui>.</p>
<note style="tip">
<p>The <gui>Full Name</gui>, <gui>Email Address</gui> and
<gui>Comment</gui> details of a GnuPG key are called the
<link xref="pgp-userid">user ID</link> of the key.</p>
</note>
<section id="advanced" ui:expanded="false">
<title>Advanced PGP key options</title>
<p>Under <gui>Advanced key options</gui>, you can choose custom values
for encryption type, key strength and key expiration date.</p>
<terms>
<item>
<title>Encryption type</title>
<p>Depending on your needs, create keys that can be used for signing only
or for both encryption and signing. The RSA and DSA-Elgamal algorithms
generate equally secure keys.</p>
</item>
<item>
<title>Key Strength</title>
<p>The key strength is measured in terms of the size of the key in bits.
It is difficult and more time consuming to break a strong key, but strong
keys will slow down the encryption and signing process. You should choose
your key strength in <app>Passwords and Keys</app> depending on how long
you want to use the key. A small key is sufficient for short term use
while a large key is more suitable for long term use.</p>
</item>
<item>
<title>Expiration Date</title>
<p>When a key expires, <link xref="pgp-expired">certain actions no longer
work</link>. In <app>Passwords and Keys</app>, you can
either set your key to <gui style="checkbox">Never Expire</gui> or
select an expiration date for it.</p>
<p>It is recommended that you set an expiration date in case you lose
access to the key. Even if your key expires, you can
<link xref="pgp-expiration-change">change the expiration to a later date</link>.</p>
</item>
</terms>
</section>
</page>
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