emcomm-tools-os-community/overlay/etc/skel/Desktop/offline/crypto/gpg-cheatsheet.md

title, date, updated, author, categories, tags

title	date	updated	author	categories	tags
GNU Privacy Guard: Crypto Cheetsheet	2026-03-19	2026-03-19	The Tech Prepper	cryptography	pgp

This is an in-progress cheatsheet for performing basic cryptographic functions using GNU Privacy Guard (gpg), including encrypting, decrypting, and verifying files in an offline environment.

List Keys

List the current keys on your system.

gpg --list-keys

• pub - Primary key
  • Your identity (root of trust)
  • Used for signing and certifying other keys
• sub - Subkey
  • Used for specific operations (usually encryption)
  • Can be replaced or rotated without changing identity
  • Can be revoked or rotated if compromised
• [SC] - Sign + Certify
• [E] - Encrypt
• Trust levels
  • unknown - No trust assigned (default)
  • full - you trust this person to sign other keys
  • ultimate - Your own key

gpg --list-secret-keys

Create Key

gpg --full-generate-key

Encrypt File

gpg -e -r RECIPIENT file.txt

Decrypt File

gpg -d file.txt.gpg

Verify Signature

gpg --verify file.sig file.txt

gpg --verify file.asc