GPG Implementation of Symmetric Operations, and To-Self Encryption

utternoncesense at utternoncesense at
Sun Jun 4 22:36:51 CEST 2006

I have a couple of questions about GPG that fall in the range above
pure mathematical equations but below "You use this option."  Mostly
they're of the form "This is how I understand it now, can you confirm
that I've got it?"

numbers p,q,g,a,b, etc.  The way I understand it:
Your secret key is encrypted using your passphrase.  Your passphrase
essentially acts as a symmetric key, one never stored anywhere except
give all the details of transformation from passphrase to key, that's
okay, just want to make sure I understand it.

symmetric, prompt for a passphrase"

file is ALWAYS encrypted symmetrically, and a symmetric key is made
for each encryption use.  The symmetric key used is then encrypted

If I'm encypting something already zipped or compressed in any other

some level, but I'm neither aware nor able to understand anythig
of cryptography?  Block Ciphers as opposed to integer factorization,
discrete logs, or curvature?  And comparing key lengths between the
the truck weighs more (easier to test factors than undo block
ciphers).  Right?

Some questions I couldn't find answers too online:
for the Keypair?)

For encryption of documents to myself, I can:
passphrase seems weaker than a full blown key.
 - Use the --encrypt-to-self or --recipient options.  I encrypt the
Document using my public key so only my Private key can open it.
the key, but apart from that?  It may be protected by a passphrase, it
may not and rely upon the user to control Key access (an interesting
implementation would be a very large symmetric key, that is stored on
a removable media or encrypted partition that is inserted/mounted
whenever access is needed, and not allowed to be stored anywhere but
Volatile Memory)
 - Any other advised methods?


Does ElGamal double the size of the encrypted document if used without

Thanks for any and all answers.

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