You need to export keys for two reasons:
1. You want other people to be able to send you files encrypted specifically for you. If you do not export your encryption key and send it to them they cannot encrypt files for you.
2. You generated a self-signed key using FAOPGP CLS and you want the people you send files to to be able to verify that they came from you. Self-signed keys are not automatically recognized by other people so you will have to export these keys and send them to anyone who needs to verify that the signature is yours.
You may also want to export your personal (private keys) if you intend to use them in another application or you wish to back them up separately.
NOTE: The key(s) used to sign and decrypt files can never be exported unless you specifically decide to do this. Only the corresponding key required to encrypt files for you or to verify files signed by you are exported. When you export a key, any associated chain is also exported - this may be a number of keys. The recipient will see the key chain when they import the key. The chain is imported automatically when the key is imported, so there is no need to worry about keys being omitted by the recipient.
To export a key
To export keys from Key Manager, highlight a key in the 'My Keys' tab, then select the Export Key File icon
.Alternatively, if you want to export and email a key (for PGP, FileAssurity OpenPGP and othe OpenPGP users), right-click on a key and select
'Export and send' from the pop-up menu. Choosing this option will open up your default email application with the exported key file displayed as message text (ascii format). NOTE: Only public keys are ever exported using this option and they cannot be imported by other FAOPGP CLS users. If you want to export a key for import by other FAOPGP CLS users or you want to export a private key then you must use the Export Key File icon
.On selecting the Export Key File icon
the export wizard will be displayed to guide you through the process of exporting keys:
On pressing the NEXT button the following dialog is displayed:
IMPORTANT NOTE: ONLY CHECK THE "EXPORT PRIVATE KEY" BOX IF YOU WANT TO PERSONALLY USE YOUR PRIVATE KEY IN ANOTHER APPLICATION OR YOU WANT TO HAVE A SEPARATE BACKUP OF YOUR PRIVATE KEY. DO NOT SELECT THIS OPTION IF YOU JUST WANT OTHERS TO ENCRYPT FILES FOR YOU.
If you do check the 'Export Private Key' box then a password dialog will be displayed asking you to enter and confirm a password.
This password is used to protect your private key and it will be requested when you import this key into another application.
On pressing the NEXT button the following dialog is displayed:
Choose the file format you would like to use to store the public key. .ASC format is the only choice if you are exporting a key of type DH/DSS as this format is most widely used with OpenPGP compatible systems, whilst .P7B is the only choice if you are exporting a key of type RSA as this is most widely used with PKI systems.
If you have chosen to export your private key then the options available will be .ASC (for keys of type DH/DSS) and .P12 (for keys of type RSA).
On pressing the NEXT button the following dialog is displayed:
Type in a filename and the location where you want to save the file or select the BROWSE button. Pressing the FINISH button will export the key(s) to your chosen location. A dialog will be displayed informing you that your key(s) were successfully exported.
Once you have exported your keys you will want to distribute them. See key distribution.