Symmetric encryption using multiple keys

[Werner Koch]

On Tue,  8 May 2012 16:41, rjh at sixdemonbag.org said:

> Symmetric encryption uses one key and only one key.

In theory this is correct.  However, OpenPGP uses a random session key
and that key is in turn encrypted symmetrically.  The protocol allows to
mix arbitrary numbers of public and symmetric keys.  GnuPG should be
able to decrypt such messages but encryption is only possible with one
symmetric key (and optionally several public keys).  The problem is to
find a good way to pass several symmetric keys.  Given that public keys
are much simpler to use, I never considered to implement multiple
symmetric keys.



Shalom-Salam,

   Werner

-- 
Die Gedanken sind frei.  Ausnahmen regelt ein Bundesgesetz.