Mailing List Archive: GnuPG: users

Symmetric encryption using multiple keys

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johnmurphy at secure-mail

May 7, 2012, 1:52 PM

Post #1 of 3 (269 views)
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Symmetric encryption using multiple keys

Hi,

I would like to encrypt data symmetrically using multiple keys. Each key is a File containing 256 bits.

So:

How can I encrypt data with multiple symmetric keys? (If gpg2 does not work, I would be happy to hear alternatives)
How can I make gpg2 use the keyfiles directly (without intermediary hashing to generate keys etc.), rather than reading the first line of the keyfile?

TY

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rjh at sixdemonbag

May 8, 2012, 7:41 AM

Post #2 of 3 (255 views)
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Re: Symmetric encryption using multiple keys [In reply to]

On 05/07/2012 04:52 PM, Secure-Mail User wrote:
> How can I encrypt data with multiple symmetric keys?(If gpg2 does not
> work, I would be happy to hear alternatives)

This is not possible.

Symmetric encryption uses one key and only one key.

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wk at gnupg

May 8, 2012, 10:12 AM

Post #3 of 3 (255 views)
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Re: Symmetric encryption using multiple keys [In reply to]

On Tue, 8 May 2012 16:41, rjh [at] sixdemonbag said:

> Symmetric encryption uses one key and only one key.

In theory this is correct. However, OpenPGP uses a random session key
and that key is in turn encrypted symmetrically. The protocol allows to
mix arbitrary numbers of public and symmetric keys. GnuPG should be
able to decrypt such messages but encryption is only possible with one
symmetric key (and optionally several public keys). The problem is to
find a good way to pass several symmetric keys. Given that public keys
are much simpler to use, I never considered to implement multiple
symmetric keys.

Shalom-Salam,

Werner

--
Die Gedanken sind frei. Ausnahmen regelt ein Bundesgesetz.

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