GnuPG Keys - What are they? What are they used for?

I understand that they are a security aspect of Web Hosting, but what exactly are they; and what is it that they actually do?

GnuPG Keys - What are they? What are they used for?

They are for encrypting messages, on an operating system called the GNU system.

Classic methods for encryption only use one key for encryption. The sender encrypts the message with this key. To be able to decrypt this the receiver needs to have this very same key. This key must have been given to the receiver in a way, that others won%26#039;t have had the opportunity to obtain this key. If somebody else does have the key, this method of encryption is useless.

The use of so-called Public Keys can solve this problem. Public Keys is a concept where two keys are involved. One key is a Public Key that can be spread through all sorts of media and may be obtained by anyone. The other key is the Private Key. This key is secret and cannot be spread. This key is only available to the owner. When the system is well implemented the secret key cannot be derived from the public key. Now the sender will crypt the message with the public key belonging to the receiver. Then decryption will be done with the secret key of the receiver.

Crucial in this concept is that the secret key remains a secret and should not be given away or become available to anyone else but the owner of this key. YOU CANNOT SEND THIS KEY OVER THE INTERNET. Also it is very unwise to use GnuPG over telnet (you might consider never to use telnet based on the high security risks).

GnuPG Keys - What are they? What are they used for?

confuses me too%26gt;