PGP Signature Verification

Verify PGP/GPG signed files and messages for authenticity and integrity

Supported formats: .asc, .gpg, .pgp, .txt (armored PGP messages)
The public key must match the private key used to sign the file
Example PGP Signed Message

This is an example of a PGP-signed file. You can download it as a .asc file or copy the text and upload it for testing.

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Privacy Guarantee: Private keys you enter or generate are never stored on our servers. All tools are served over HTTPS.

PGP Signature Verification Explained

How PGP Digital Signatures Work

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) digital signatures provide cryptographic proof that a file or message was created by a specific person and hasn't been tampered with. The verification process involves:

  1. Signature Creation: The sender creates a hash of the file/message and encrypts it with their private key
  2. File Distribution: The signed file (containing both message and encrypted hash) is shared
  3. Verification: Recipient uses sender's public key to decrypt the hash and compare it with a newly computed hash
  4. Result: If hashes match, the signature is valid - proving authenticity and integrity

Why Verify PGP Signatures?

  • Authenticity: Confirms the file was signed by the holder of the corresponding private key
  • Integrity: Ensures the file hasn't been modified since signing
  • Non-repudiation: Signer cannot deny having signed the file
  • Trust: Essential for software downloads, secure communications, and legal documents
Important: A valid signature only proves the file was signed by someone with the private key. Always verify the public key belongs to the claimed person through trusted channels (key fingerprints, keyservers, web of trust).

Author Credentials & Expertise

Created by Anish Nath - Security Engineer specializing in cryptography and digital signatures.

  • Experience: 15+ years in cybersecurity, cryptographic implementations, and PKI systems
  • Expertise: OpenPGP/GPG implementations, digital signature verification, certificate validation
  • Standards Knowledge: Deep understanding of RFC 4880 (OpenPGP), X.509, digital signature algorithms
  • Contact: @anish2good on X (Twitter)
Implementation Note: This tool uses Bouncy Castle cryptographic library for signature verification, following OpenPGP standards strictly. No uploaded files or keys are stored on our servers.

Trust & Privacy Guarantees

Zero Data Retention Policy

  • Uploaded files are never stored on our servers
  • Files are processed in memory and immediately discarded after verification
  • Public keys used for verification are not logged or retained
  • No tracking cookies or analytics on this verification tool
  • All processing happens server-side with immediate cleanup

Common Use Cases

  • Software Verification: Verify downloaded software packages haven't been tampered with
  • Email Authentication: Confirm signed emails are from the claimed sender
  • Document Validation: Verify legal documents and contracts
  • Code Signing: Validate Git commits, release packages, and code integrity
  • Secure Communications: Verify messages in end-to-end encrypted systems

Authoritative Sources

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