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On 4/11/13 4:13 AM, gnupg-users-requ...@gnupg.org wrote:
> Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:05:46 +0930 From: Ashley Holman 
> <dsc...@gmail.com> To: gnupg-users@gnupg.org Subject: Backing up 
> Private Keys Message-ID: 
> <caoxabzrwauxwguqgm7y48+zf1jp84v1y-wplrcjhzi9um6n...@mail.gmail.com>
>
>
> 
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> 
> Hi all,
> 
> When I export my private key using `gpg --export-secret-key 
> --armor', and then delete all of my keys and re-impot from the 
> exported secret key, it seems to give me both the public and 
> private key back.  Does this mean that the public key is exported 
> along with the private key?
> 
> I'm just trying to work out whether I need to export both the 
> public and private keys or if --export-secret-key is enough.
> 
> Thanks very much Ash

Hello Ash,

I just happened to be looking through the GPG USERS message digest and
saw this post.  Excited, I realized I knew the answer!

Welcome to GNU Privacy Guard!
Your secret keys are able to recreate the public key, but not vice-versa.
So if you need to share a public key with someone, export your public
key and share it or put it on biglumber.com or the key server.

Your secret key should always be backed up and never shared... it is
all you need, you don't need to "back-up" your public key (which is
worthless without the secret key to go with it on your computer(s)).

I hope this helps you.

- -Steve

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