MANUAL
Copyright © 2000 Yasuhiro ARAKAWA

Tips - Encryption mail

I think that I want to be going to introduce it as long as I think of such a tips that carries out the sending and receiving of encryption mail by using Becky! Internet Mail Ver.2 (B2) and GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG) and also GNU Privacy Guard Plug-in (BkGnuPG) in this page.

I do not do the explanation with regard to those here, although various terminology and abbreviation appear during sentences. Please consult that, because I am raising the bibliography to the end of this page.

Need of encryption e-mail

The e-mail that we are using usually casually may be safe how much. Although it is mail by the post office that it is compared well with an e-mail it is said that the safety of a usual e-mail is a postcard degree. Namely, the e-mail is that it is the safety like that I am able to read if the 3rd person intends to read it. And, it is delivered perhaps the contents may have been been rewritten by someone halfway.

The sender can not be proven in the present e-mail system furthermore. (There is assuming that the sender is shown, I can rewrite easily with the software of generally that at present there is this From field etc.) This case becomes other someone easily if it uses an e-mail and mean that can cause to finish it. Also, this case I can also pretend unand others of e-mail for the foul trick.

Time and, so that can use appropriately the postcard and letter as the case may be safety should be able to select a high delivery method more that the mail by the post office even an e-mail depends on case. Encryption e-mail can reply to this demand.

Encryption of the e-mail that used PGP/GnuPG

Although it is various e-mail in the method that encrypts I introduce the method that uses Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) and GnuPG here. The point that PGP and GnuPG are excellent is shown below.

  1. The encryption algorithm that is known to the world widely is being used.
  2. It gets the source code easily.
  3. It is free software fundamentally. (There is part of restriction)

The point that is known especially is very important when it thinks the security of a/the system. (By doing exclusively the fragility of the security that is kept is sufficient to see example of the DVD and may be understanding.)

By using the encryption e-mail by PGP/GnuPG we can add the following facilities to a conventional e-mail.

  1. It is possible so as not to be read the contents by the 3rd person, by encrypting a message.
  2. I can verify whether the e-mail that received is not rewritten.
  3. The sender is able to be proven by the signature. It becomes due to this and cause finished and able to prevent the likes.

Unreasonable case in PGP/GnuPG

There are several of unreasonable case in PGP and GnuPG.

  1. We are not able to conceal the information that sent (or received) e-mail in the encryption e-mail that used PGP/GnuPG.
  2. We do not understand to whether was rewritten how, although the contents can verify whether or not the one that was rewritten, in the e-mail that was signed.
  3. There may be the necessity that seals some contracts on the occasion of use, because part of cipher algorithm is protected with the patent. (I am not using the cipher algorithm that conflicts with to the patent in GnuPG in default.) And also that an individual uses the strong cipher system like PGP/GnuPG by a country and area, is being prohibited.

It may become a problem in the case that I demand higher security (For example it is in the case that I want to finish hiding fact itself that sent e-mail.), although it does not become a problem much in the case that only the safety like a letter expects to encryption e-mail about the first 2 pieces. For instance, it combines it with other method in this case doing security needs to be secured. (In the case that it says most, so although I had better not use an/the electronic e-mail.) In the case that No. 3 becomes a problem I have no way but to give up the use of PGP/GnuPG.

Exchangeability of GnuPG and PGP

Several of attentions are necessary to do the exchanging of encryption messages mutually with a PGP user actually, although GnuPG is introduced as "another implement of PGP".

OpenPGP

Although it is now GnuPG is made with the standard of OpenPGP. Therefore, please think PGP 2.6.x that does not know OpenPGP that the exchanging of encryption messages is not possible mutually. (At all it does not impossible to.)

BkGnuPG is doing assuming that a partner side is using PGP (5.x over) or GnuPG. In the case that a partner is in the environment where is able to use PGP of the version of the front only from 5.x giving up that uses BkGnuPG we will had better think other method. (It is although I think that almost there is not the situation like that now.)

Public key encryption and digital signature algorithm

RSA key, or DH/DSS (rigidly Elgamal/DSS) key can be generated in PGP. In the case that the key is generated with GnuPG the kind of the key is selected from the combination of Elgamal and also DSA (the algorithm of DSS) each algorithm in the present version. Elgamal/DSA key needs to be prepared, to give the exchanging of encryption e-mail to the bi-direction with both applications.

When key imports it in GnuPG subsequent to version 1.0.3, RSA key has come to be able to be accepted. Yet, it is not possible the encryption and also decoding that used RSA/IDEA, because IDEA (one of symmetric-key encryption algorithm) is not incorporated in default.

Signature Packet

Two types of version 3 (V3) and version 4 (V4) exist in signature packet. Even GnuPG generates V4 signature in default, to be written that "Implementations SHOULD generate V4 signatures." to OpenPGP. However, PGP can treat only V3 signature type even the latest version. (It seems to accept V4 signature type about the signature of the key) Also the application seems to might end abnormal, when we try to verify V4 signature type by the version of PGP.

V3 signature comes to be generated forcibly, by checking "PGP compatible" item of "Setting dialog" (use --force-v3-sigs option), in the case that we use GnuPG from BkGnuPG. Let's avoid using V4 signature in the case that I do not understand the environment of a partner well. However, because there is the person who thinks that it is impolite to be used to sending the e-mail with the signature suddenly an attention.

Message digest algorithm

MD5 is able to be set up as the message digest algorithm of when that signs in BkGnuPG. This is doing the implement because "it can sets up it like the indication with PGP/MIME" (RFC2015) only. (PGP/MIME is able to set up MD5 and also SHA-1 as message digest algorithm.)

However, I SHOULD NOT use MD5, because it is pointed out the weak nature as message digest algorithm. PGP uses SHA-1 in the case that it signs with DSA key. It seems to be doing verify processing assuming that SHA-1 is used without regard to a/the header information if it is the signature by a DSA key in at the time of the verification also.

Implementation Nits

The problem regarding the exchangeability with PGP is written in chapter 14 of OpenPGP.

About security

I express several about the problem of the security of the time that uses GnuPG. It is the conversation of the time that uses commercial PGP/GnuPG mainly. It may be good even if we do not think rigidly up to here, in the case that I use PGP/GnuPG only with an individual.

Additional Decryption Key

ADK (Additional Decryption Key) became a topic in the security hall the other day. There is not the facility of ADK in GnuPG. However, the attention is necessary in the case that I am registering the public key of a self with the Key server. There may be the necessity that downloads the public key of a self periodically and check. Please refer to the following link about the security hall of ADK.

The confidence model with regard to the public key distribution of PGP/GnuPG is called "Web of trust". This works effectively in the private fellow or community which closed. However, "Web of trust" may not work effectively. For example "the relation between the company and employee" are so. ADK is done to PGP the implement as one of such means that solves this problem.

It may be assumed that you had difficulty a little bit, in case that it was stated the escrow of the key from the company, if you are using GnuPG with the business.

Storage of the secret key

You should do the control of the secret key rigidly. Even if the partner is a superior official and parents you should not pass the whereabouts of the secret key. However, you may not go even so in the case that the partner is not equal relation with you.

When I put it by using PGP it was said such a case well with BBS etc.

The secret key settles to one without dispersing and had better set up it plural key ID to the key.

Is it really so really? In the case that it is using GnuPG with business the escrow of the such key that expressed a while ago may be been stated. Will not it be known by the company to the case, personal key?

I think that the one who I set up the control level where uses appropriately by a/the partner and purpose and differ every key is rational a plural key.

Bcc recipients

The e-mail address that set up it to Bcc usually is not told by the users of other To, Cc, Bcc addresses. However, the existence of the user will be known by the users of other To, Cc, Bcc addresses, that it has encrypted with the public key of Bcc addresses, because it is possible that I take out the look of user ID from encryption packet. (You can see it easily with --list-packet command in GnuPG.) This case becomes a problem in the case that encryption e-mail is used with a business.

Usually, you SHOULD NOT check "Encrypt with public keys of Bcc recipients" item of "Settings dialog". In case that you check it you are concerned with the problem that expressed previously and please operate prudently.

You can hide the key ID of recipients when you check "Anonymous recipients" item of "Settings dialog" in the case that you are understanding previously that the recipients is all the GnuPG users.

Security Considerations

The problem with regard to the security of PGP/GnuPG is listed in chapter 13 of OpenPGP.

"options" file

You can describe the option of default in "options" file in GnuPG. The "options" file makes it for the home directory of GnuPG. It is possible be designated even the option that is not able to set up it with BkGnuPG if you employ "options" file. For example I think that you are able to use it in the case that special cipher algorithm is used and in the case that be putting the bunch of keyring file to a special directory.

Yet, BkGnuPG does not check "options" file. As a result that you do not expect, that the option that contradicts with the setting of BkGnuPG is described in "options" file it may become.

Bibliography

When I made BkGnuPG the following WWW page and book were referred to. I think that it is useful probably even in the case that you use BkGnuPG. And many many thanks for the people who are disclosing such useful information and software.


Please contact to spiegel@alles.or.jp if you wish to comment on this page.