PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption protects your communications from surveillance and tampering. On the dark web, PGP is essential for secure messaging, verifying identities, and protecting sensitive information. This guide teaches you to generate keys, encrypt messages, and verify signatures using modern GPG software.

What PGP Does

PGP provides two main functions: encryption and authentication. Encryption scrambles messages so only the intended recipient can read them. Authentication proves messages came from who they claim to be from and weren't modified in transit.

Unlike passwords or simple encryption, PGP uses public key cryptography. You have two keys - a public key you share with everyone, and a private key you keep secret. People use your public key to encrypt messages only you can decrypt with your private key.

This solves the key exchange problem. With traditional encryption, both parties need to share a secret key securely before communicating. PGP lets you publish a public key freely while keeping the private key secret.

PGP vs GPG

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) is the original software created in 1991. GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is a free, open-source implementation of the PGP standard. Today, most people use GPG but still call it PGP.

The terms are mostly interchangeable. GPG is the software you'll actually install and use, but "PGP" is the common name for the encryption method.

Installing GPG

Windows

Download Gpg4win from the official website. This package includes the core GPG software plus a graphical interface called Kleopatra. Install with default options. Kleopatra makes GPG easier to use without command line knowledge.

Mac

GPG Suite provides GPG for Mac with integration into Apple Mail and Keychain. Download from the official site and install. The graphical tools make key management straightforward.

Linux

Most Linux distributions include GPG by default. Open a terminal and type "gpg --version" to check. If not installed, use your package manager: "sudo apt install gnupg" on Debian/Ubuntu or "sudo dnf install gnupg" on Fedora.

Critical Warning: Download GPG software only from official sources. Fake GPG tools might generate compromised keys or steal your private key. Verify downloads when possible using checksums or signatures.

Generating Your Key Pair

Using Kleopatra (Windows/Mac)

Open Kleopatra and click "New Key Pair." Choose "Create a personal OpenPGP key pair." Enter a name (can be pseudonymous) and email address. For dark web use, use an anonymous email or pseudonym, not your real identity.

Click "Advanced Settings" and choose RSA with 4096 bits for maximum security. Set no expiration date or a far future date - you want this key to remain valid.

Click "Create" and set a strong passphrase. This passphrase protects your private key. If someone steals your key file, the passphrase prevents them from using it. Make the passphrase long and strong - this is critical security.

Using Command Line

Open terminal and type: gpg --full-gen-key

Choose RSA and RSA (option 1). Select 4096 for key size. Choose expiration (0 for no expiration or set a future date). Enter name and email (use pseudonyms for anonymous identities). Type a strong passphrase when prompted.

The process generates random data for your keys. This takes a minute or two. Move your mouse or type on keyboard to help generate randomness on some systems.

Understanding Your Keys

Your key pair consists of a public key and private key. The public key can be shared freely - post it on forums, include it in profiles, send it to anyone. The private key must remain secret and secure.

Each key has a fingerprint - a unique identifier. Fingerprints verify you have the correct public key. Always verify fingerprints through multiple independent channels before trusting a key.

Managing Keys

Exporting Your Public Key

In Kleopatra, right-click your key and select "Export." Save to a file. This creates a text file containing your public key. Share this file or copy its contents to share your public key.

Command line: gpg --armor --export [email protected] > pubkey.txt

The exported public key is a block of text starting with "-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----" and ending with "-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----".

Backing Up Your Private Key

Export your private key and store it securely. In Kleopatra, right-click your key, select "Export Secret Keys." Save to an encrypted USB drive or secure location. Never store private keys in cloud services or unencrypted locations.

Command line: gpg --armor --export-secret-keys [email protected] > privkey.txt

Protect this file carefully. Anyone with your private key and passphrase can decrypt your messages and impersonate you.

Importing Others' Public Keys

To encrypt messages to someone, you need their public key. Save their public key to a file or copy it. In Kleopatra, click "Import" and select the file. The key appears in your keyring.

Command line: gpg --import their-pubkey.txt

Always verify the fingerprint before trusting an imported key. Contact the person through a different channel and confirm their key fingerprint matches.

Best Practice: Publish your public key fingerprint in multiple places - forum signatures, profile pages, social media. This lets people verify they have your correct public key by comparing fingerprints from different sources.

Encrypting Messages

Using Kleopatra

Click "Sign/Encrypt" in Kleopatra. Type or paste your message in the text area. Check "Encrypt" and select the recipient's public key from the list. Optionally check "Sign" to add your signature. Click "Sign/Encrypt" and the encrypted message appears.

The encrypted message is a block of text starting with "-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----". Copy this entire block including the header and footer lines. Only the person with the matching private key can decrypt it.

Using Command Line

Create a text file with your message. Encrypt it: gpg --encrypt --armor --recipient [email protected] message.txt

This creates message.txt.asc containing the encrypted message. The --armor flag creates ASCII text output suitable for copying and pasting.

Encrypting to Multiple Recipients

You can encrypt a message so multiple people can decrypt it. Add multiple --recipient flags: gpg --encrypt --armor --recipient [email protected] --recipient [email protected] message.txt

Each recipient can decrypt the message with their private key. This is useful for group communications.

Decrypting Messages

Using Kleopatra

Copy the encrypted message including the "BEGIN" and "END" lines. Click "Decrypt/Verify" in Kleopatra. Paste the encrypted message and click "Decrypt/Verify." Enter your passphrase when prompted. The decrypted message appears.

Using Command Line

Save the encrypted message to a file. Decrypt it: gpg --decrypt encrypted-message.txt

Enter your passphrase when prompted. The decrypted message displays on screen.

Signing Messages

Digital signatures prove a message came from you and wasn't modified. Sign messages when authentication matters even if encryption isn't needed.

Creating Signatures

In Kleopatra, use "Sign/Encrypt" but check only "Sign," not "Encrypt." The signed message includes your signature that others can verify with your public key.

Command line: gpg --clearsign message.txt creates a signed version of the message. The signature is attached but the message remains readable.

Alternatively: gpg --detach-sign message.txt creates a separate signature file. This is useful for signing files without modifying them.

Verifying Signatures

To verify a signed message, you need the sender's public key. Import their public key if you don't have it. In Kleopatra, click "Decrypt/Verify" and paste the signed message. It verifies the signature and shows if it's valid.

Command line: gpg --verify signed-message.txt shows whether the signature is valid and who signed it.

Valid signatures mean the message came from the person who owns that private key and the message wasn't altered. Invalid signatures indicate tampering or wrong keys.

Common Use Cases on Dark Web

Vendor Communication

When ordering from dark web marketplaces, vendors often require PGP encryption for shipping addresses. You encrypt your address with the vendor's public key. Only they can decrypt it, protecting your information from marketplace admins and hackers.

Vendors post their PGP public keys on their profile pages. Always verify the fingerprint through multiple sources before trusting it.

Sensitive Information

Any personal or sensitive data shared on the dark web should be PGP encrypted. Never send unencrypted personal information, even through "secure" messaging systems. PGP adds end-to-end encryption that platforms can't intercept.

Identity Verification

PGP signatures verify identity. Vendors and trusted users sign messages to prove they're authentic. If a vendor's PGP signature doesn't match their known public key, it's likely a scammer impersonating them.

When someone claims to be a known vendor or user, ask them to sign a message with their PGP key. This proves they control the private key associated with that identity.

Security Best Practices

Passphrase Protection

Your PGP passphrase must be extremely strong. It's your only protection if someone gets your private key file. Use a long passphrase with random words, numbers, and symbols. Store it in a password manager or memorize it - never write it down unencrypted.

Private Key Security

Store your private key on encrypted drives. Never upload it to cloud services. Back it up to encrypted USB drives stored in secure physical locations. If your computer is compromised, assume your private key is compromised too.

Key Rotation

Some security experts recommend generating new keys every few years and revoking old ones. This limits the damage if an old key is compromised. However, this makes communication history harder to maintain.

For dark web use with pseudonymous identities, rotating keys periodically makes sense. For long-term identities, key rotation is less practical.

Fingerprint Verification

Always verify key fingerprints before trusting a public key. Attackers create fake keys with similar names or emails. The fingerprint is the only reliable way to verify you have the correct key.

Check fingerprints through multiple independent channels. If possible, verify in person or through voice/video calls. Don't rely on a single source for fingerprint verification.

Important Note: PGP protects message content but not metadata. It doesn't hide who is communicating with whom or when. Use PGP alongside Tor and good OPSEC for complete protection.

Common Mistakes

Encrypting to Wrong Key

Always verify you're encrypting to the correct recipient. Encrypting sensitive information to the wrong public key sends it to the wrong person with no way to recall it.

Losing Private Keys

Without your private key, you can't decrypt messages sent to you. Back up private keys securely. If you lose your key, messages encrypted to it are permanently inaccessible.

Weak Passphrases

Short or simple passphrases defeat PGP's security. If someone gets your private key file, a weak passphrase lets them use it. Passphrases should be as strong as your most sensitive passwords.

Sharing Private Keys

Never share your private key with anyone, ever. Legitimate support will never ask for your private key. Anyone requesting your private key is trying to compromise your security.

Troubleshooting

Can't Decrypt Messages

Verify the message was encrypted to your public key. Check that you have the correct private key. Ensure you're entering the right passphrase. If all else fails, the message might be corrupted.

Signature Verification Fails

This might mean the message was tampered with, the signature is corrupted, or you have the wrong public key. Verify you imported the correct public key by checking the fingerprint.

Keyring Issues

GPG stores keys in a keyring. Sometimes keyrings get corrupted. Export important keys, delete the keyring, and reimport keys to fix corruption issues.

Advanced Features

Subkeys

PGP supports subkeys - additional keys linked to your master key. You can use subkeys for signing and encryption while keeping your master key extremely secure. This advanced setup provides extra security layers.

Key Servers

Public key servers let you publish your public key for others to find. Upload your public key to servers like keys.openpgp.org. However, be aware that key servers are sometimes unreliable and keys can be difficult to remove.

Revocation Certificates

Generate a revocation certificate when creating keys. If your private key is compromised, you can publish the revocation certificate to tell others not to use that key anymore.

Final Thoughts

PGP seems complex initially but becomes routine with practice. The security benefits are worth the learning curve. On the dark web, PGP is often mandatory for sensitive communications.

Start by generating your keys and practicing encryption with friends or test messages. Build confidence before using PGP for important communications. The skills become second nature quickly.

Remember that PGP is one tool in your security toolkit. Use it alongside Tor, good OPSEC, and other security practices for comprehensive protection.