Re: file-encryption with PGP (or similar): PublicKey necessary, or normal password ok ?

On 2007-03-29, John <linux55@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I intend to encrypt some files stored on the local harddisk: Important
to me is that this can be done with a filemanager like KDE, Konqueror
or something similar.

Question:
Do I need a PublicKey in order to be able to encrypt files this way,
or can a normal password be used ?

Public key cryptography was designed to allow secure key exchange over
an insecure channel. If you don't need to share the key over an insecure
channel (i.e. you're the only person who needs to be able to decrypt the
files, or you can provide the key securely in some other manner) then
the public key part is superfluous. Regular symetric encryption would
work fine in that case.

--

John (john@xxxxxxxxxxx)
.