editing my e-mail address

[Linea Recta]

Using PGP 8.1
I have an old (invalid) e-mail address in my key data. How can I change
this? Do I have to generate a whole new key for all receivers?

[David E. Ross]

Post by Linea Recta
Using PGP 8.1
I have an old (invalid) e-mail address in my key data. How can I change
this? Do I have to generate a whole new key for all receivers?

The following works with PGP 8.0.3 with Windows; it should probably be
very similar with PGP 8.1.

1. Open your keyring, getting the PGPkeys window.

2. Select your key (single-click).

3. Right-click to get a pull-down context menu.

4. Select [Add > Name].

5. On the PGP New User Name dialogue, enter your name and new E-mail
address.

6. Select the OK button. You will then have to enter your passphrase.

7. On the PGPkeys window, again select your key.

8. Select the plus sign (+) to expand the listing and expose user IDs.

9. Select your new user ID.

10. Right-click to get a pull-down context menu.

11. Select [Set as Primary Name].

You can then remove your old user ID, but I would not bother. If your
key is on a public key server, you can't remove your old ID from the key
server copies. However, if your key is on a key server, you should
upload your modified key. (Only your public key will upload, not your
private key.)

[Linea Recta]

Post by David E. Ross

Post by Linea Recta
Using PGP 8.1
I have an old (invalid) e-mail address in my key data. How can I change
this? Do I have to generate a whole new key for all receivers?

The following works with PGP 8.0.3 with Windows; it should probably be
very similar with PGP 8.1.
1. Open your keyring, getting the PGPkeys window.
2. Select your key (single-click).
3. Right-click to get a pull-down context menu.
4. Select [Add > Name].
5. On the PGP New User Name dialogue, enter your name and new E-mail
address.
6. Select the OK button. You will then have to enter your passphrase.
7. On the PGPkeys window, again select your key.
8. Select the plus sign (+) to expand the listing and expose user IDs.
9. Select your new user ID.
10. Right-click to get a pull-down context menu.
11. Select [Set as Primary Name].

Thanks very much for reply. Your description worked fine. I did remove the
invalid e-mail address, because I want to prevent the risk of people
replying to an invalid address.

Post by David E. Ross
You can then remove your old user ID, but I would not bother. If your
key is on a public key server, you can't remove your old ID from the key
server copies. However, if your key is on a key server, you should
upload your modified key. (Only your public key will upload, not your
private key.)

I don't have my keys on any (public) key server. (I didn't know the
existence of non-public key servers?)
So I suppose I now have to send my modified public key to recipients?

[David E. Ross]

Post by Linea Recta

Post by David E. Ross

Post by Linea Recta
Using PGP 8.1
I have an old (invalid) e-mail address in my key data. How can I change
this? Do I have to generate a whole new key for all receivers?

The following works with PGP 8.0.3 with Windows; it should probably be
very similar with PGP 8.1.
1. Open your keyring, getting the PGPkeys window.
2. Select your key (single-click).
3. Right-click to get a pull-down context menu.
4. Select [Add > Name].
5. On the PGP New User Name dialogue, enter your name and new E-mail
address.
6. Select the OK button. You will then have to enter your passphrase.
7. On the PGPkeys window, again select your key.
8. Select the plus sign (+) to expand the listing and expose user IDs.
9. Select your new user ID.
10. Right-click to get a pull-down context menu.
11. Select [Set as Primary Name].

Thanks very much for reply. Your description worked fine. I did remove the
invalid e-mail address, because I want to prevent the risk of people
replying to an invalid address.

Post by David E. Ross
You can then remove your old user ID, but I would not bother. If your
key is on a public key server, you can't remove your old ID from the key
server copies. However, if your key is on a key server, you should
upload your modified key. (Only your public key will upload, not your
private key.)

I don't have my keys on any (public) key server. (I didn't know the
existence of non-public key servers?)
So I suppose I now have to send my modified public key to recipients?

Yes. If you're not using public key servers, that's the only way others
will have your public key with the new E-mail address. If others merely
add your modified key to their keyring, however, they will have both
your new and old addresses. (That's why the step to make the new
address the Primary Name is important.) They too can delete your old
address.

Note well: Signatures of others on your public key adhere to a
particular user ID (E-mail address). When you deleted your old address,
you deleted any such signatures. The information about others
validating your public key has been lost. You will need to have past
signers sign your modified key.