Partha's PGP public key

What is PGP ?

• What is PGP ? What is this PGP Public key ? PGP stands for Pretty Good Privacy, an excellent, public domain, software tool for ensuring privacy and security on the Internet (plus more). With PGP and my public key, you can encrypt any message, or file, and send it to me. Only I can decrypt your message because only I know the corresponding private key (aka "secret key") for doing this decryption. The encryption cannot be broken by anybody else. This is the principle of what is known as public key cryptography (PKC). PGP does many more things, in addition to PKC. The PGP web site has lots of very well written tutorials on cryptography, and security. You can also download the PGP tool from this site.

• There is a Linux version of PGP (GPG) available from: http://www.gnupg.org. In general, GPG comes with all standard Linux distributions (unlike that other fliMSy-cluMSy-MeSsy operating system).

• Wish to learn more about cryptography, PGP and e-security ? Algologic can organise a one-day training program on cryptography and PGP for you, at your premises and at your convenience. Send me an e- mail, for details. Algologic can also provide a whole range of training services.

Partha's PGP public key

Download the key and verify its authenticity

You can download Partha's PGP public key, and then use PGP software to add it to your PGP keyring. To verify the authenticity of the copy you downloaded, check for the following properties of this public key:

• Key ID is: 0x91ACB7FA
• Key fingerprint is: 3D86 8FC2 4649 055B 649E 82BE 545A 8E7B 91AC B7FA
• Type and size: DH/DSS 2048/1024

To be absolutely sure : You must also download another copy of this key from: PGP- Public-Keyserver: UniGH Paderborn, and make sure that the key fingerprints of both copies match the one given above.

To be absolutely "absolutely sure" : To make absolutely sure that you have indeed an authentic copy of my public key, you must reconfirm the "fingerprint" of this key with the "fingerprint" of the original key with me. You must do this confirmation process in addition to, and after making the comparison mentioned in the earlier paragraph. Send me an e- mail, so that I can let you know how to go about this confirmation process.

What next ?

After you have installed and tested PGP, and after you have obtained and confirmed Partha's PGP public key:

1. Send an encrypted test message to Partha
2. Try to create a PGP key pair for yourself. "Export" your public key to a file and send me this public-key file. I will then send you an encrypted test message (using your public key), for you to decrypt (using your private/secret key). In fact, you can even encrypt the public-key file you send me (i.e. your public key), using my public key !
3. Inform all your friends and colleagues, and make your public key visible to as many people as possible. You may even decide to upload your PGP public key to a public PGP key server.

Contact me

• Address:
  Dr. S. Parthasarathy
  Algologic Research & Solutions
  78 Sancharpuri Colony
  Bowenpally P.O.
  Secunderabad 500 011
  INDIA
  
• e mail: hyd1_algolog@sancharnet.in
• Phone: + 91 - 40 - 2775 1650
• FAX: + 91 - 40 - 2775 1135