From bef3a69be9dd8478a7793d706641c2f216a1aa24 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Tammi L. Coles" Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:34:45 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] rewrite header and note on Usage and terminology --- book/source/03-cryptography.md | 8 +++----- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/book/source/03-cryptography.md b/book/source/03-cryptography.md index 459e25d..5e2be0a 100644 --- a/book/source/03-cryptography.md +++ b/book/source/03-cryptography.md @@ -97,16 +97,14 @@ It's important to note that in many scenarios, only the public key is exposed or The public component of an asymmetric key pair ``` -### Public-key cryptography in OpenPGP +### Usage and terminology in OpenPGP -OpenPGP makes heavy use of public-key cryptography, both for encryption and signing operations. +OpenPGP extensively uses public-key cryptography for encryption and digital signing operations. ```{admonition} Terminology :class: note -For historical reasons, the OpenPGP RFC and other documentation often use the non-standard term "secret key" instead of the more common "private key." - -So in OpenPGP, the pair of terms "public/secret key" is sometimes used instead of the more common "public/private key." +OpenPGP documentation, including the foundational RFC, opts for the term "secret key" over the more commonly used "private key." As a result, you'll encounter the "public/secret key" pairing more frequently than "public/private key." But don't worry; "secret key" and "private key" serve the same purpose in cryptographic operations. This terminology reflects historical preferences in the OpenPGP community, not a difference in technology. ``` ### Cryptographic digital signatures