is used to decrypt data, and must be protected. Encrypted backup data cannot be recovered without the private key. The private key may optionally be encrypted with a passphrase.
.PP
While the public key must be online at all times to perorm backups, the private key and optional passphrase are only needed to restore data. It is recommended that the latter be stored offline all other times. For example, you could keep the private key on removable media, and copy it into place for a restore; or you could keep the private key online, encrypted with a passphrase that is present only for a restore.
.PP
OpenSSL's key derivation routines use a salt to guard against dictionary attacks on the pass phrase; still it is important to pick a pass phrase that is hard to guess. The Diceware method (see
is used to decrypt data, and must be protected. Encrypted backup data cannot be recovered without the private key. The private key may optionally be encrypted with a passphrase.
.PP
While the public key must be online at all times to perorm backups, the private key and optional passphrase are only needed to restore data. It is recommended that the latter be stored offline all other times. For example, you could keep the private key on removable media, and copy it into place for a restore; or you could keep the private key online, encrypted with a passphrase that is present only for a restore.
.PP
OpenSSL's key derivation routines use a salt to guard against dictionary attacks on the pass phrase; still it is important to pick a pass phrase that is hard to guess. The Diceware method (see