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Demonic_Chronic
The Plague Doctress



Registered: 08/10/08
Posts: 4,199
Loc: PNW
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Basic Data Encryption For Dummies!(Tutorial)
#18721691 - 08/18/13 04:17 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hello fellow shroomerites! As many of you may know, our wonderful website is gifted with a built in data encryption option..But what about offsite?
In regards to your safety and the safety of others, basic data encryption is a good, easy and all around useful skill to learn.
The technical term for one who encrypts data is a "Crypto-anarchist" Doesnt that sound cool? 
This is a very simple guide on how to start on the path to keeping you and your online activities as anonymous as you can.
The most commonly used program/system is PGP which stands for Pretty good Privacy. This form of encryption is almost military grade if not military grade and relatively simple to use!
How to get started on your way to being a crypto-anarchist! Visit http://www.gnupg.org/ and download the version that fits your OS. Windows and Mac friendly, also Linux I believe.
download to your desired location and there will be a program called GPA in most cases, open this link and it should bring up what is called your GNU Privacy Assistant. This is where you will set up your keys. -For those who don't know what keys are, Ill give you a quick rundown.
There are two types of Keys, a public key and a private key. -A public key is what you share with the public and can give to anyone you wish to have send you encrypted messages. - A private key is your own personal "password" per se. DO NOT SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE! Your private key will be used to decrypt messaged encrypted in your public key, If you give your private key out anyone can decrypt and read messages written in your public key. To put it in simpler terms, think of the Public key as a drop box with a lock. Anyone can drop a message or letter in, but only the key holder can unlock and view the contents of the box.
Now when you open GPA(GNU privacy assistant) the list will be blank. To get started you need to form your public and private key. To do this, click on the 'Keys' tab(hotkey K) and select 'new key' Fill out the forms, use any alias you prefer and you will choose your "password" or private key. Let me reiterate DO NOT SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE!
Now your almost ready to start being a Crypto Anarchist!
After you have your profile set up with your password, you must get your public key so people can encrypt messages in your key and you can decrypt with your private key. Click on your name or profile in the keyring which is the white space that should now have the profile name you created. Its four easy steps! 1. Create a new text file and save it to your desktop (name it public key) 2 . Return to your GNU and Click on YOUR key/name to select your key. 3. Click the "Export Key" option 4. Find the file you just created named "public key", select it and click export at the bottom right.
Now when you open the text file it will be a bunch of unreadable gibberish starting with -----Begin PGP Public Key Block-----
This is what you will share with people so they can send you encrypted messages. Give this to anyone you wish to speak with anonymously.
Now when you someone sends you an encrypted message, you simply open the message, select decrypt and type in your private key. The message should now be translated to a legible text.
How to Import Other Peoples Public Keys Now that you can receive and decrypt messages, its time to learn to be able to send a message back that the other party can decrypt with there private key/password.
When the other party shares with you their public key, copy and paste the entire key into a blank .txt document. Then return to your GNU Privacy assistant and select import, find the file you pasted their public key into and click import. Their profile should now be added to your keyring. Now you can start sending encrypted messages back and forth! 
Finally, how to create your encrypted message.
In the GNU, there is a clipboard tool. This is where you will write and encrypt your messages. To make sure you have the idea down, try encrypting a message in your own key first. 1. Open the clipboard in the GNU and type a message. 2. Select the encrypt option up top 3. Select the Key that you wish to encrypt to, try yours our first so you get the hang of it. The message should now become the same kind of gibberish you saw earlier. 4. Choose the decrypt option and type in your password if you encrypted to your own key, the message should now return to its original, english format.
Things to remember 1. If you share your private key, anyone can decrypt and read your messages. 2. You must give someone your public key in order for them to send you a message that you can decrypt and read. 3. Dont forget your private key!, make a protected backup or write it down somewhere that you wont lose or forget it. 4. If you do lose or forget your private key, you can create a new one but you must share your new public key in order to decrypt messages, you cant decrypt a message written in an old public key, with your new private key.
That about does it, Wraps er all up.
 If its too confusing for people I can add pictures later when I have the time, that may make it easier to understand but its not rocket science!
If you have any question feel free to PM me! Ill try to help as much as I can and guide you through it if your having trouble. I think I covered about everything.
Now your a Crypto-Anarchist!
DC
-------------------- The Real violence, the violence that I realized was unforgiveable Is the violence that we do to ourselves When we are too afraid to be, who we really are.
 
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Shrine



Registered: 01/12/13
Posts: 73
Last seen: 2 years, 8 months
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Re: Basic Data Encryption For Dummies!(Tutorial) [Re: Demonic_Chronic]
#18721693 - 08/18/13 04:20 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks DC!
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Bacchus
Lurker



Registered: 10/10/06
Posts: 914
Loc: ::1
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Re: Basic Data Encryption For Dummies!(Tutorial) [Re: Shrine]
#18740250 - 08/21/13 11:01 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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A few notes regarding private keys:
- Set a mother f'n passphrase on your private key. Even if you lose control of your passphrase-protected private key, no one will be able to impersonate you unless they can get your passphrase as well. A naked, passphraseless key is like an account without a password...
- Speaking of impersonation: don't generate keys that never expire. Set them to expire after a year or two, so if you DO lose control of your key/passphrase the damage will not be eternal.
- Generate a key-revocation certificate immediately. If you ever lose your private key (HD crash, didn't buy into the backing up fad) or you forget your passphrase, you'll never be able to invalidate your keys. UNLESS you generated that revocation certificate waaaaay back when you still had the key and passphrase. Export the cert as .ASC and print the bad boy out. Put it in a safety deposit box, give it to your lawyer, tattoo it on your chest, whatever... Just don't lose it.
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Living on a no-Flash diet is way easier than you think. Give it a shot.
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Demonic_Chronic
The Plague Doctress



Registered: 08/10/08
Posts: 4,199
Loc: PNW
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Re: Basic Data Encryption For Dummies!(Tutorial) [Re: Bacchus]
#18740328 - 08/21/13 11:30 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Noted!
Thanks for the input.
DC
-------------------- The Real violence, the violence that I realized was unforgiveable Is the violence that we do to ourselves When we are too afraid to be, who we really are.
 
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Basic Data Encryption For Dummies!(Tutorial) [Re: Demonic_Chronic]
#18762209 - 08/27/13 12:53 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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GTFO
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Demonic_Chronic
The Plague Doctress



Registered: 08/10/08
Posts: 4,199
Loc: PNW
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Re: Basic Data Encryption For Dummies!(Tutorial) [Re: Shroomism]
#18762220 - 08/27/13 12:59 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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DC
-------------------- The Real violence, the violence that I realized was unforgiveable Is the violence that we do to ourselves When we are too afraid to be, who we really are.
 
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realcarlos
Stranger
Registered: 05/04/10
Posts: 292
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: Basic Data Encryption For Dummies!(Tutorial) [Re: Demonic_Chronic]
#18766065 - 08/27/13 09:29 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thank you
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