// COMPLETE THREAD

Public Key Servers

3 expanded posts ยท every known parent and child

NODE 7398abfdPublic Key Servers
Are the key servers listed in the PGP documentation still active? 
And if so, what is the general opinion of using them?

						Jeremy Smith
						jersmit@eis.calstate.edu
NODE cc68bb33Re: Public Key Servers
> 	Are the key servers listed in the PGP documentation still active? 

Yes, they are active.

> And if so, what is the general opinion of using them?  

It depends what you are trying to get to here?  The keyservers were
created as a way to implement out-of-band key distribution.  They
provide an easy way for you to get someone's key before initiating
contact with this person.

The key-servers do not do any key authentication, leaving the
validity-checking up to the end user.  It does leave a few things
open, namely, anyone can see who has keys on the servers.  But once a
US-legal PGP does come out (RSN, I believe), it won't be as big a
deal.

I hope this helps.

-derek
NODE 977e8b3aPublic Key Servers
>	   Are the key servers listed in the PGP documentation still active? 
>   And if so, what is the general opinion of using them?

Key server == list of people to bust and who knows who.
  (compute the transitive closure of the signatures)