Sending your key to a keyserver

Sending your key to a keyserver

You can use this option even if you are exchanging encrypted emails with only a few people. By making your key available on a keyserver, it is always accessible to you and/or others.

PLEASE NOTE: ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT SPAMMERS ARE CURRENTLY COLLECTING ADDRESSES FROM KEYSERVERS, IT IS TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE TO DO SO. WE DO NOT, THEREFORE, RECOMMEND PUBLISHING YOUR KEY TO A KEY SERVER IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE SPAM FILTER.

Choose your key by clicking on it. Then click on Server -> Send key which is found under Server -> Server. A popup window will alert you that your key is about to be sent to a public key server.

This window also displays a default key server. If you click on [Yes], your key will be automatically sent to the server, from where it is sent to a network of worldwide key servers. Now anyone can download your key, and use it to send you a secure email.

If this is a practice run, do NOT send your practice key to the key server because once sent, it cannot be removed.

Summary: You now know how to distribute your key via a key

server on the Internet.

==> Chapter 6 of the manual"Gpg4win for Advanced Users" explains how to find someone else's key on a keyserver.

Sending your key to a keyserver