The PGP Global Directory Verification Key (Windows)

Products

• Symantec Products

Issue/Introduction

This answer provides information about the implications of downloading, importing, signing, and trusting the PGP Global Directory Verification Key, as well as instructions on how to do so.

Resolution

Every key published in the PGP Global Directory is signed by the PGP Global Directory Verification Key. As a result, if you sign and trust the PGP Global Directory Verification Key, then your PGP Desktop will automatically consider every key in the PGP Global Directory to be valid.

Download, Import, Sign, and Trust the PGP Global Directory Verification Key

To download the PGP Global Directory Verification Key, simply visit https://keyserver.pgp.com and click the Download Verification Key link (near the bottom of the page).

Import the PGP Global Directory Verification Key

To import the PGP Global Directory Verification Key into your keyring, complete the following steps.

1. Open PGP Desktop.
2. In the PGP Keys control box of PGP Desktop, select the keyring into which the PGP Global Directory Verification Key will be imported (the default keyring is called All Keys).
3. Click the File menu, then click Import.
4. Browse to the location where you downloaded the PGP Global Directory Verification Key, select the key and click Open.
5. When the Select key(s) window appears, make sure the PGP Global Directory Verification Key is selected, then click Import.

Sign the PGP Global Directory Verification Key

To Sign the PGP Global Directory Verification Key, complete the following steps.

1. Right-click on the PGP Global Directory Verification Key, then click Sign.
2. When the PGP Sign Key window appears, simply click OK.
3. If necessary, choose the appropriate private key with which to sign (from the Signing Key drop-down menu), then enter its passphrase and click OK.

Trust the PGP Global Directory Verification Key

Use the following steps to trust the PGP Global Directory Verification Key.

1. Right-click on the PGP Global Directory Verification Key, then click Key Properties.
2. On the properties window, change the Trust setting from None to Trusted.
3. Close the key properties window.