5 ms·

I think it would be more useful if it printed the key as QR code(s). This way you would not have to type in the key or rely on OCR.

by felixr 13y ago

welterde 13y ago
If you are going that route anyway, you can just use optar[1] and just print the whole encrypted file. [1] http://ronja.twibright.com/optar/ http://ronja.twibright.com/optar/
janerik 13y ago
Just generate a QR code from the output ("programs should do one thing and do it well")
phaer 13y ago
Just add qrencode[1] to the mix: > gpg --export-secret-key my-key | paperkey | qrencode [1]: https://github.com/fukuchi/libqrencode https://github.com/fukuchi/libqrencode
dfc 13y ago
Did you see: --output-type can be "base16" or "raw". "base16" is human-readable, and "raw" is useful if you want to pass the output to another program like a bar code or QR code generator (though note that scannable codes have some of the disadvantages discussed above). It is as easy as: paperkey --secret-key secret-key.gpg --output-type raw | qrencode -o qr-paperkey.png If you are curious David Shaw is one of the main GPG developers.
- felixr 13y ago
  I have to admit, I just read the 'What paperkey does' section. This section suggests to "re-enter those bytes (whether by hand or via OCR)" and does not mention QR codes. Next time I search the article for keywords before commenting...
  - dfc 13y ago
    How about everyone reads the entire article before commenting? I am a little surprised that anything else is even an option.
rwg 13y ago
I went with Data Matrix to backup my (encrypted) PGP key pair to paper. When I compared QR and Data Matrix, Data Matrix "won" because of its ability to encode pretty massive amounts of data by chaining individual barcodes together. (QR tops out at around 3000 bytes; less if you increase the error correction level.) That said, I'm not sure if I'd make the same decision today. QR code readers are plentiful, and Data Matrix readers are comparatively rare.

I think it would be more useful if it printed the key as QR code(s). This way you would not have to type in the key or rely on OCR.

by felixr 13y ago

I think it would be more useful if it printed the key as QR code(s). This way you would not have to type in the key or rely on OCR.

welterde 13y ago

If you are going that route anyway, you can just use optar[1] and just print the whole encrypted file. [1] http://ronja.twibright.com/optar/ http://ronja.twibright.com/optar/

janerik 13y ago

Just generate a QR code from the output ("programs should do one thing and do it well")

phaer 13y ago

Just add qrencode[1] to the mix: > gpg --export-secret-key my-key | paperkey | qrencode [1]: https://github.com/fukuchi/libqrencode https://github.com/fukuchi/libqrencode

dfc 13y ago

Did you see: --output-type can be "base16" or "raw". "base16" is human-readable, and "raw" is useful if you want to pass the output to another program like a bar code or QR code generator (though note that scannable codes have some of the disadvantages discussed above). It is as easy as: paperkey --secret-key secret-key.gpg --output-type raw | qrencode -o qr-paperkey.png If you are curious David Shaw is one of the main GPG developers.

felixr 13y ago
I have to admit, I just read the 'What paperkey does' section. This section suggests to "re-enter those bytes (whether by hand or via OCR)" and does not mention QR codes. Next time I search the article for keywords before commenting...
- dfc 13y ago
  How about everyone reads the entire article before commenting? I am a little surprised that anything else is even an option.

rwg 13y ago

I went with Data Matrix to backup my (encrypted) PGP key pair to paper. When I compared QR and Data Matrix, Data Matrix "won" because of its ability to encode pretty massive amounts of data by chaining individual barcodes together. (QR tops out at around 3000 bytes; less if you increase the error correction level.) That said, I'm not sure if I'd make the same decision today. QR code readers are plentiful, and Data Matrix readers are comparatively rare.