Default encryption key algo

Werner Koch wk at gnupg.org
Mon May 11 18:48:13 CEST 2009


Hi,

from all responses we gathered regarding the change of the default
algorithm for new keys (on several lists) it should be pretty clear that
RSA is a good choice.

The next question is whether to use Elgamal or RSA as the standard
encryption subkey for a new key.  Currently it is Elgamal.  They are
both okay: Elgamal needs to be supported anyway becuase it is a MUST
algorithm in OpenPGP and RSA can be used because the primary key will be
RSA and an implementation without RSA support won't be able to use an
Elgamal subkey either.

I have a slight preference towards RSA because that allows to transfer
the key to a smartcard.  Given that subkeys are easily changeable it is
not a real advantage, though.

Any opinions?  What is PGP's default?


Salam-Shalom,

   Werner


-- 
Die Gedanken sind frei.  Auschnahme regelt ein Bundeschgesetz.




More information about the Gnupg-devel mailing list