What is a .GPG file?
A .GPG file is a special kind of file that has been locked using a program called GNU Privacy Guard, or GnuPG for short. Think of it like putting a document, picture, video, or any other type of file into a safe, and GnuPG is the key to that safe. The file is encrypted, which means it has been transformed into a secret code that can only be understood if you have the right key to unlock it.
To open a .GPG file and see what's inside, you need to have the correct key that matches the lock. This key is a special code created by GnuPG. Without this key, the file will stay locked and unreadable.
The main tool you use to open a .GPG file is called GnuPG. It's like the master key maker and lock picker in one. It can lock (encrypt) files and unlock (decrypt) them, but only if you have the right keys.
More about GNU Privacy Guard: This program is a guardian of your privacy. It follows a set of rules known as the OpenPGP encryption standard to make sure that when you send files or messages, they can only be read by the person you're sending them to. It's like sending a letter in a locked box instead of a clear envelope. GnuPG uses two kinds of keys: one private key that you keep to yourself, and a public key that you can share with others so they can send you encrypted messages or files that only you can open.
Most of the time, when you use GnuPG to lock a file, it gets saved with a .gpg at the end of its name. This tells you and everyone else that the file is encrypted. To unlock a .GPG file, remember, you need the matching key.
Note: Sometimes, a .GPG file might actually be a key itself, used to lock or unlock other files.
Verification
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