export secret key (web)

4l1cker's Avatar

4l1cker

08 May, 2012 04:25 PM

Hello there!
I'll going to reinstall my Mac OS X Lion and I would save my secret key. How I can do it? How I can restore my secret key back.
Thank you!

Best regards,
Dan

  1. 1 Posted by Paul Morten Vik... on 08 May, 2012 06:59 PM

    Paul Morten Vikanes's Avatar

    Hi Dan,
    Open GPG Keychain Access, select your key and choose Export.
    In the save dialog, check the "Allow secret key export" checkbox and save it.

    To be sure it is done correctly, open the file in a text editor to make sure it contains both a public and private (secret) pgp key block.

    -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

    asdsdfsdgdsg
    sdgdsg
    -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

    -----BEGIN PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----

    sdgdsgsdg
    sdgdsggd
    -----END PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----

    (something like that, but with alot more text between BEGIN and END)

    If you see both the public and private block, your secret key is exported.
    Now save this to a USB memory stick or something; and you are ready to reinstall.
    And after re-installing OS X and GPGTools, just import that file into GPG Keychain Access.

    REMEMBER: Keep that file safe! If someone steals it, it's next to worthless.

    Hope this helps,
    Paul Morten

  2. 2 Posted by Dan on 08 May, 2012 07:37 PM

    Dan's Avatar

    Thank you!

  3. Support Staff 3 Posted by Steve on 16 May, 2012 05:33 PM

    Steve's Avatar

    Resolved -> Closing :)

    Thanks Paul for helping Dan out.

  4. Steve closed this discussion on 16 May, 2012 05:33 PM.

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