A partial replacement for PGP/GPG
Command Line – Modern File Encryption

© Lead Image © photonphoto, 123RF.com
Age, a modern encryption tool, could soon replace PGP and GPG when it comes to file encryption.
If you encrypt, you are probably familiar with Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) [1] or its clone GNU Privacy Guard (GPG). Most likely, you have used one of these tools to generate public and private keys and to encrypt email and files. The Free Software Foundation explains these tools in its Email Self-Defense Guide as a first step towards privacy [2]. However, despite PGP and GPS being ubiquitous when it comes to privacy, some people believe that these tools are counter-productive and little more effective than the feeble default protection available for PDF files when it comes to modern computing. Ironically, as PGP and GPG become more widely used, some security experts are advocating for their replacement with Actual Good Encryption (age), at least for file encryption [3].
Why do some security experts claim that PGP and GPG are obsolete? To begin with, PGP and GPG have long public keys that can be difficult to work with when space is limited, and copying them accurately by hand is difficult. In particular, they can be difficult to configure, even when the simple configuration wizard is used (Figure 1). When generating a key, PGP and GPG require numerous choices, including the encryption method, the key size, and how long the key is valid. Even a moderately skilled user can be hard-pressed to answer such questions intelligently. As a result, users may simply fall back on the defaults, although ignorance and security are hardly compatible. Many users, too, complain about having to move the cursor around to generate sufficient randomness – and, the longer the key, the longer it takes to generate the randomness. To further add to the confusion, PGP and GPG do too many things, such as signing services and key management, that many users have no interest in, which can add to the confusion.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Kernel Reducing Long-Term Support
LTS support for the Linux kernel is about to undergo some serious changes that will have a considerable impact on the future.
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.