--list-packets question

[David Shaw]

On Sun, Jul 22, 2001 at 07:10:21PM -0700, Rich Wales wrote:
> David Shaw wrote:
> 
>     > Using --list-packets (version 1.0.6) on an encrypted message
>     > prompts for a passphrase (if the message is encrypted to
>     > yourself), or fails (if the message is encrypted to someone
>     > else).  Shouldn't it just list the message packets?
> 
> No, because the details of the message packet are hidden until/unless
> the packet can be decrypted.  This is an intentional design feature.
> 
> Note, for example, that if a message is signed and encrypted, the
> signature is done first (on the original cleartext message), and then
> the signed message is encrypted.  Thus, only an intended recipient
> of the message can verify the signature (or even see that the message
> has a signature).  There's no way for "--list-packets" to defeat this.

I understand that, but I somewhat expected --list-packets to do just
that - show that it is an encrypted message packet (":encrypted data
packet:") and leave it at that.

David

-- 
   David Shaw  |  dshaw@jabberwocky.com  |  WWW http://www.jabberwocky.com/
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
   "There are two major products that come out of Berkeley: LSD and UNIX.
      We don't believe this to be a coincidence." - Jeremy S. Anderson