PGP Key-signing Party

Where?

Keg South 12805 SW 136th Ave Miami Fl.
(pretty much corner of 128th st and sw 137th ave)
click for map

When?

Dec 29th, 2000
8pm to 10pm

The 'party' will start at 8pm and go until at least 10pm or so. We will start the key-signing process when gregs crew arrives. You may, of course, arrive earlier or later. Ill be there early to try to secure us a big ole table, the crew from up north will probably be arriving later. e-TechServices will *not* be sponsoring the first $100 of beer at this event, but they did that last time and as such should be recognized and thanked again. Especially since this page is pretty much stolen from them ;) This time it is each man/woman for themselves. I tried to get FIU to let me put it on the procard, but purchasing just is not hip. But I imagine that we will have a good bunch of beer and food anyway. Keg South has excellent wings and fabulous burgers.

What's a key-signing party?

A key-signing party is a get-together with PGP users for the purpose of meeting other PGP users and signing each other's keys. This helps to extend the "web of trust" to a great degree. Also, it sometimes serves as a forum to discuss strong cryptography and related issues.

What do I need for this party?

Required Items

Physical attendance
Positive picture ID
key ID, key type, HEX fingerprint, and key size
A pen/pencil or whatever you'd like to write with....
NO computer

Required Process

Generate a key/Remember your pass phrase
All attendees send their public keys to a public keyserver. For this party, we'll use search.keyserver.net. If for some reason you don't want your key to be in a public keyserver, but still want to participate, let me know and I can change the protocol.

All attendees send their key ID, key type, fingerprint, and key size to the host, esj@cs.fiu.edu, who will compile everyone's key information.
The host prints a list with everyone's key ID, key type, fingerprint, and key size from the compiled keyrings and distributes copies of the printout at the meeting.
Attend the party. Bring along a paper copy of your key ID, key type, fingerprint, and key size that you obtained from your own keyring. You must also bring along a suitable photo ID. Instruct the attendees at the beginning that they are to make two marks on the listing, one for correct key information (key ID, key type, fingerprint, and key size) and one if the ID check is ok.
At the meeting each key owner reads his key ID, key type, fingerprint, key size, and user ID from his own printout, not from the distributed listing. This is because there could be an error, intended or not, on the listing. This is also the time to tell which ID's to sign or not. If the key information matches your printout then place a check-mark by the key.
After everyone has read his key ID information, have all attendees form a line.
The first person walks down the line having every person check his ID.
The second person follows immediately behind the first person and so on.
If you are satisfied that the person is who they say they are, and that the key on the printout is theirs, you place another check-mark next to their key on your printout.
Once the first person cycles back around to the front of the line he has checked all the other IDs and his ID has been checked by all others.
After everybody has identified himself or herself the formal part of the meeting is over. You are free to leave or to stay and discuss matters of PGP and privacy (or anything else) with fellow PGP users. If everyone is punctual the formal part of the evening should take less than an hour.
After confirming that the key information on the key server matches the printout that you have checked, sign the appropriate keys. Keys can only be signed if they have two check-marks.
Send the signed keys back to the keyservers.
Use those keys as often as possible.

This key-signing party protocol was based heavily on the protocol detailed in http://www.herrons.com/kb2nsx/keysign.html.

This key signing page was stolen blatantly from John Sheehy's page for the original Gainesville PGP party.

Why shouldn't I bring a computer?

There are a variety of reasons, why you don't want to do this. The short answer is it would be insecure, unsafe, and of no benefit. For those not convinced, here are some reasons why it is insecure, unsafe, and of no benefit.

If people are swapping disks with their keys on them the computer owner has to worry about viruses.
If people are carrying their secret keys with them and intend to do the signing at the actual meeting by typing their passphrase into a computer, then they are open to key-logging attacks, shoulder-surfing, etc.
It is much better to just exchange key details and verify ID and then do the signing when you get home to your own trusted computer.
Someone might spill beer on it.
Someone might drop it or knock it off the table.
More reasons, I don't feel like articulating

What if I still have a question?

Oh just show up and party anyway. Ask someone over a beer.