PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption is essential for secure communication on the dark web. Many marketplaces and vendors require PGP for sharing sensitive information like addresses or financial details. Understanding PGP basics protects your privacy and prevents others from reading your communications.

What PGP Does

PGP provides two main functions: encryption and authentication. Encryption scrambles messages so only the intended recipient can read them. Authentication verifies that messages actually come from who they claim to be from.

Think of it like a secure lockbox. You encrypt a message and put it in a box that only the recipient's key can open. Nobody intercepting the box can read the contents. The recipient knows it came from you because your signature proves it.

Public Key Cryptography

PGP uses public key cryptography, which involves two keys: a public key and a private key. These keys are mathematically related but serve different purposes.

Your public key encrypts messages sent to you. You share this freely with everyone. Think of it as your address that anyone can use to send you secure mail.

Your private key decrypts messages encrypted with your public key. You never share this with anyone. It's like the physical key to your mailbox - losing it means losing access to your encrypted messages.

How It Works

Encrypting Messages

To send an encrypted message, you get the recipient's public key. You use this key to encrypt your message. Once encrypted, only their private key can decrypt it. Not even you can decrypt it anymore - only the recipient with their private key.

This solves the traditional encryption problem of securely sharing keys. You never need to exchange private keys. Public keys can be shared openly without compromising security.

Digital Signatures

Digital signatures prove message authenticity. You sign a message with your private key. Anyone with your public key can verify the signature came from you.

This prevents impersonation. If someone claims to be you, they can't forge your signature without your private key. Recipients verify signatures to confirm they're communicating with the real you.

Key Concept: Encryption uses the recipient's public key. Signatures use your private key. Encryption protects confidentiality. Signatures provide authentication. Often you do both - encrypt with their public key and sign with your private key.

Getting Started with PGP

Choosing Software

GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is the free open-source implementation of PGP. It's available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Most people use GPG rather than the original commercial PGP software.

Gpg4win provides Windows users a complete package including Kleopatra (a graphical interface) and email integration. It makes GPG accessible without command-line knowledge.

GPG Suite serves Mac users similarly, providing graphical tools and email integration for macOS.

Linux users often have GPG pre-installed. Command-line tools work well, or GUI options like Seahorse provide easier interfaces.

Generating Your Key Pair

Key generation creates your public and private keys. You'll choose a key size (4096-bit recommended for maximum security), an expiration date (optional but recommended), and a passphrase to protect your private key.

The passphrase encrypts your private key file. Even if someone steals the file, they can't use it without your passphrase. Choose a strong unique passphrase and remember it - forgetting it means losing access to all encrypted messages.

Key generation takes several seconds as your computer creates truly random numbers for cryptographic strength. Moving your mouse or typing randomly helps provide entropy for key generation.

Understanding Your Keys

After generation, you have two keys linked by a unique Key ID (fingerprint). The fingerprint is a hash of your public key - it's like your key's unique serial number.

Your public key block looks like random text starting with "BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK" and ending with "END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK". This entire block is what you share with others.

Your private key stays on your computer, encrypted by your passphrase. Never export or share your private key.

Basic Operations

Encrypting a Message

First, import the recipient's public key into your keyring. Then select their key when encrypting. Type or paste your message, encrypt it, and the output will be an encrypted block of text.

This encrypted text looks like random characters. You can copy and paste it into emails, messages, or anywhere else. Only the recipient's private key can decrypt it.

Encrypted messages start with "BEGIN PGP MESSAGE" and end with "END PGP MESSAGE". This entire block is what you send.

Decrypting a Message

When you receive an encrypted message (the BEGIN/END PGP MESSAGE block), paste it into your PGP software and decrypt. You'll need to enter your passphrase to unlock your private key.

The software decrypts the message and displays the original plaintext. Nobody intercepting the encrypted version could read it without your private key and passphrase.

Signing Messages

Signing adds a digital signature block to your message. The message remains readable, but the signature proves you wrote it.

Create your message, sign it with your private key (entering your passphrase), and the output includes both the message and signature. Recipients verify the signature using your public key.

Verifying Signatures

When receiving a signed message, import the sender's public key if you don't have it. Verify the signature using their public key. The software confirms whether the signature is valid.

Valid signatures prove two things: the message came from the person who owns that private key, and the message wasn't modified after signing. Any change to the message invalidates the signature.

Security Warning: Never share your private key or passphrase with anyone. Legitimate support never needs these. Anyone requesting your private key is attempting to compromise your security.

Key Management

Backing Up Keys

Backup your private key immediately after generation. If your computer crashes or gets stolen, you lose access to all encrypted messages without a backup.

Export your private key to an encrypted USB drive or write it to paper and store securely. Some people use steel backup plates for fire/water resistance.

Test your backup by importing it on another device and decrypting a test message. Verify backups work before you need them.

Revoking Keys

If your private key is compromised or you lose the passphrase, revoke the key. Revocation certificates tell others the key is no longer valid and shouldn't be used.

Generate a revocation certificate immediately after creating your key pair. Store it securely but separately from your private key. If needed, publish this certificate to warn others your key is compromised.

Key Expiration

Setting expiration dates on keys is good security practice. If you lose access to a key, it automatically becomes invalid after expiration. This prevents old compromised keys from being used indefinitely.

You can extend expiration dates before they expire if you still control the key. This provides security against lost or forgotten keys while allowing continued use of controlled keys.

Multiple Keys

Some people create separate keys for different purposes or identities. A personal identity key, a work key, and anonymous dark web keys might all be separate.

This compartmentalizes risk. If one key is compromised, others remain secure. It also prevents linking different identities through shared keys.

Dark Web PGP Usage

Marketplace Communications

Many dark web marketplaces require PGP for sensitive communications. Vendors' public keys are usually posted in their profiles. Use these to encrypt shipping addresses and other personal information.

Never send sensitive information unencrypted on marketplaces. Even with Tor, marketplace administrators could read unencrypted messages. PGP ensures only the vendor sees your information.

Verifying Vendor Identities

Established vendors publish PGP keys. They sign messages with these keys to prove identity. Check signatures on vendor messages to confirm you're communicating with the real vendor, not an impersonator.

Save trusted vendors' key fingerprints. Before large orders, verify the key fingerprint matches what you saved. Scammers might provide different keys hoping you don't notice.

Two-Way Communication

For maximum security, both encrypt and sign messages. You encrypt with the vendor's public key (protecting confidentiality) and sign with your private key (proving authenticity).

The vendor does the same - encrypting with your public key and signing with their private key. This provides both confidentiality and authentication in both directions.

Common Mistakes

Sharing Private Keys

Private keys must remain private. Sharing them defeats all security. If someone needs to decrypt your messages, share encrypted messages instead, or create a shared key specifically for that purpose.

Weak Passphrases

Private key passphrases should be as strong as your most sensitive password. Weak passphrases let attackers decrypt your private key file if they obtain it.

Not Verifying Keys

Always verify you have the correct public key before encrypting. Using the wrong key means sending encrypted messages to the wrong person or to an impersonator.

Check key fingerprints through multiple channels. Don't trust keys from a single source - verify fingerprints through the vendor's forum posts, their website, and marketplace profile.

Encrypting Without Signing

Encryption without signatures allows message modification. An attacker could change encrypted content if you don't sign. Always sign encrypted messages for authentication.

Forgetting Passphrases

Lost passphrases mean permanent loss of access to your private key and all encrypted messages. There's no password recovery. Write down passphrases and store them securely.

Best Practice: Regularly practice PGP operations. Encrypt and decrypt test messages. Verify signatures. Build muscle memory so you can use PGP confidently when it matters.

Advanced Concepts

Web of Trust

PGP includes a web of trust model where people sign each other's keys to vouch for identity. If you trust Alice and Alice has verified and signed Bob's key, you can have some confidence in Bob's key.

This is less important on the dark web where pseudonymous identities are standard. What matters is consistency - the same key fingerprint across multiple verified sources.

Key Servers

Public key servers store and distribute PGP public keys. You can upload your public key so others can find it, or search for others' keys.

Key servers don't verify identities. Anyone can upload keys claiming to be anyone. Always verify key fingerprints through trusted channels, not just key server listings.

Subkeys

PGP allows creating subkeys for specific purposes - one for signing, one for encryption, one for authentication. If a subkey is compromised, you revoke just that subkey without losing your entire identity.

This is advanced usage most people don't need, but provides additional security for high-value identities.

Alternatives to PGP

While PGP is standard for dark web communications, alternatives exist. Signal provides end-to-end encryption for messaging with easier usability. However, Signal requires phone numbers, limiting anonymity.

Age is a modern encryption tool simpler than PGP. It doesn't have PGP's widespread adoption on dark web marketplaces but offers easier file encryption for personal use.

For marketplace communications specifically, PGP remains the standard. Learn it even if you use alternatives for other purposes.

Learning Resources

The GPG documentation provides comprehensive technical information. Online tutorials walk through basic operations with screenshots.

Practice with friends or create multiple key pairs yourself and practice encrypting messages between them. Hands-on experience builds confidence.

Dark web forums often have PGP practice threads where people post encrypted messages for others to practice decrypting.

Final Thoughts

PGP's learning curve frustrates beginners, but the security benefits are worth the effort. Once you understand basic operations, PGP becomes routine.

For dark web usage, PGP isn't optional - it's essential. Marketplaces assume PGP knowledge. Vendors expect encrypted communications. Taking time to learn PGP properly protects your privacy and security.

Start simple. Generate keys, practice encrypting and decrypting, verify some signatures. Build skills gradually. Soon PGP becomes second nature, and you'll wonder how you communicated securely without it.