creating gpg key pair gpg --full-generate-key exporting public key gpg --export --armor email@email > key.asc importing public key gpg --import pub.asc listing public keys gpg --list-public-keys asymmetric encryption (using a public key) # or -e -r gpg --encrypt --recipient friend@email file cat message.txt | gpg --encrypt --recipient email@email | base64 -w0 && echo symmetric encryption (using a password) # or -c gpg --symmetric file cat message.txt | gpg --symmetric | base64 -w0 && echo decrypting # or -d gpg --decrypt file.gpg > file cat secret.txt | base64 -d | gpg -d backup from a previous homedir PREVIOUS_HOMEDIR=/previous_home/.gnupg gpg --homedir $PREVIOUS_HOMEDIR --export --armor > backup.asc gpg --homedir $PREVIOUS_HOMEDIR --export-options backup --export-secret-keys --armor >> backup.asc restore to the current homedir gpg --import backup.asc
