gpg: WARNING: Using untrusted key!

[David Shaw]

On Wed, Mar 16, 2005 at 08:15:15PM -0800, Melissa Reese wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm getting a peculiar warning message when I verify signed messages;
> even messages signed using my own keys (GnuPG v1.4.1). Here's a sample
> verification of one of my own messages:
> 
> gpg: armor header: Hash: RIPEMD160
> gpg: original file name=''
> gpg: Signature made 03/16/05 18:58:05 using RSA key ID 973073CF
> gpg: Good signature from "Melissa Reese <snipped at calarts.edu>"
> gpg: WARNING: Using untrusted key!
> gpg: textmode signature, digest algorithm RIPEMD160
> 
> I know that my key is given "Ultimate Trust", so I'm a bit confused
> about that, but I get this same warning when I verify anyone else's
> signed messages as well:
> 
> gpg: WARNING: Using untrusted key!
> 
> Does anyone know what this means?

It means that you have "--trust-model always" set.  GnuPG is warning
you that it isn't checking trust.

David