Fix version claims and add a bit more detail about extensions to 4880.

It's not so straightforward: RFC 2440 and 4880 both define OpenPGP version 4 artifacts. So naming versions in the text is tricky.
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Heiko Schaefer 2023-11-01 21:08:21 +01:00
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@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ The original PGP software was never under a Free Software license, despite its s
While PGP was first developed as commercial software, the owner at the time, PGP Inc., started a standardization effort with the IETF, first publishing [RFC 1991 "PGP Message Exchange Formats"](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1991) in August 1996. While PGP was first developed as commercial software, the owner at the time, PGP Inc., started a standardization effort with the IETF, first publishing [RFC 1991 "PGP Message Exchange Formats"](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1991) in August 1996.
In July 1997, a process to produce an open standard under the then new name [OpenPGP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy#OpenPGP) was started, resulting in [RFC 2440 "OpenPGP Message Format"](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2440), published in November 1998. RFC 2440 describes OpenPGP version 3. In July 1997, a process to produce an open standard under the then new name [OpenPGP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy#OpenPGP) was started, resulting in [RFC 2440 "OpenPGP Message Format"](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2440), published in November 1998.
The name OpenPGP can be used freely by implementations, unlike the name PGP, which is a [registered trademark](https://uspto.report/TM/74685229). The name OpenPGP can be used freely by implementations, unlike the name PGP, which is a [registered trademark](https://uspto.report/TM/74685229).
@ -49,11 +49,15 @@ GnuPG was a major early implementation of OpenPGP. Over the years, the importanc
Because the GnuPG program binary is called "gpg," "GnuPG" and "gpg" are often used interchangeably. Because the GnuPG program binary is called "gpg," "GnuPG" and "gpg" are often used interchangeably.
## The OpenPGP version 4 era ## The RFC 4880 era
### OpenPGP version 4 ### OpenPGP version 4
In 2007, the IETF published [RFC 4880](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4880), which defined version 4 of the OpenPGP standard. As of late 2023, version 4 is the most commonly used version. In 2007, the IETF published [RFC 4880](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4880), which defines version 4 OpenPGP artifacts. As of late 2023, version 4 is the most commonly used version.
An extension for Elliptic Curve Cryptography was defined in [RFC 6637](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6637).
Some implementations explored other non-standardized extensions. Notably, algorithms based on Curve 25519 were tentatively defined in the [rfc4880bis](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-rfc4880bis-10.html#name-elliptic-curve-cryptography) document. These algorithms are widely used, even though rfc4880bis has never been finalized as a new version of the standard.
(major_implementations)= (major_implementations)=
### Major implementations of OpenPGP ### Major implementations of OpenPGP