Encrypting with Kleopatra

Dec 3 2025

About Kleopatra

Kleopatra is a certificate manager and a universal crypto GUI. You can create keys with it and encrypt/decrypt messages or photos using PGP.

Installing Kleopatra

sudo apt install scdaemon kleopatra

Creating PGP Keys Using Kleopatra

Click on 'New Key Pair'.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Enter a fake name and fake email address for anonymity.

Check the box that says 'Protect the generated key with a passphrase'. Click 'OK'.

On the next window that pops up, enter a secure password. Enter it again. Click 'OK'.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

The next screen should indicate success. You created a key pair. Click 'OK'.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

See the certificate which represents your newly created keys? We'll use these soon.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Encrypting a Message for a Friend

First, get your friend's public PGP key and save it with the .asc file extension.

For this example, we'll use the public PGP key from our friends at anarsec.guide.

Now click on 'Import' and select the text file where you saved your friend's public PGP key.

Click 'Import'.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Click 'Certify'.

Enter the password you created to protect your key pair.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Success! Click 'OK'.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Now you should see anarsec.guide's public key on the list of certificates.

Click on 'Notepad'.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Now write a nice message for AnarsecDotGuide.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Now click the 'Recipients' tab. Choose anarasec under 'Encrypt for others'.

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Return to the 'Notepad' tab. Click 'Sign / Encrypt Notepad' button. That's it!

screenshot of kleopatra running in Debian 12

Now just copy all the text in Kleopatra's notepad and paste it into an email for anarsec.

For your information, this is AnarsecDotGuide's email address: anarsec (at) riseup (dot) net

You're really good at this!