#Setup gpg key how to#
#Setup gpg key install#

usernames, email addresses, filenames) is shown in вЂњgray italicвЂќ. In all examples below, text that you will need to replace with your own values (e.g. Typographical conventions used in commands: For anВ overviewВ of how public key cryptography works, read the Introduction to CryptographyВ (link at the bottom of this post). However, to obtain these advantages, a minimal level of complexity is required to make it all work. GPG uses a method of encryption known as public key cryptography, whichВ provides a number of advantages and benefits. GPG is powerful encryption software, but it can also be easy to learn - once you understand some basics. If you expectВ to use GPG more extensively, I strongly advise you to read more documentation (see the Links section below). Think of it as a вЂњquick referenceвЂќ or a вЂњcheat sheet.вЂќ You should certainly learn more about GPG than what is explained within this post. What follows is a very brief introduction to command line usage of GPG.

#Setup gpg key install#

When thatвЂ™s complete, install the GPG software package with the following command. Open a Terminal window (Applications > Utilities menu), then enter the following command. The easiest way to installВ the GPG command line tools on your Mac is to first install Homebrew, a package management system thatВ makes thousands of software packages available for install on your Mac. encrypting email communications, or encrypting documents in a GUI text editor), refer to theВ links at the endВ of this article. If, on the other hand, youВ prefer a graphical user interface (or GUI) for accessing GPG functionality (e.g. The instructions here will install the core GPG command line tools, which are intended to be used in a terminal. GPG can be installed in a number of different ways.

#Setup gpg key how to#

What follows is a quick primer on how to install the GPG command line tools, as well asВ a list of basic commands you are most likely to need. However, each is uniquely different in its implementation. Conceptually, both use the same approach to cryptography (i.e. GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is a free open source version of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption software. Naturally, I find it easierВ to use the command line version of GPG to directly encrypt and decrypt documents. As a systems engineer, I do most of my work on remote servers, accessible via command line interface. I use GPG (also known as GnuPG) software for encryptingВ files that contain sensitive information (mostly passwords).