--list-packets question

[Rich Wales]

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.

Rich Wales       richw at webcom.com       http://www.webcom.com/richw/pgp/
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