Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kleopatra VS OpenPGP Keyserver

Compare Kleopatra VS OpenPGP Keyserver and see what are their differences

Kleopatra logo Kleopatra

Kleopatra is a certificate manager and GUI for GnuPG.

OpenPGP Keyserver logo OpenPGP Keyserver

Pool of places to publish and search OpenPGP public keys.
  • Kleopatra Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-29
  • OpenPGP Keyserver Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-05-18

Kleopatra features and specs

  • Open Source
    Kleopatra is an open-source application, meaning its source code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance. This level of transparency can increase trust and foster community-driven improvements.
  • Cross-Platform
    Kleopatra is available on multiple operating systems, including Windows and Linux, providing users with flexibility and continuity across different environments.
  • Supports GPG and X.509
    The application supports both GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) and X.509 certificates, allowing for versatile encryption and signature capabilities.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Kleopatra features a graphical user interface that simplifies the management of cryptographic keys, making it accessible even for users who are not experts in cryptography.
  • Integration with KDE
    As part of the KDE suite, Kleopatra integrates well with other KDE applications, offering a more seamless experience for users of the KDE desktop environment.

Possible disadvantages of Kleopatra

  • Limited Mac Support
    Currently, there is no official version of Kleopatra available for macOS, which limits its accessibility to users on that platform.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, newcomers to cryptographic tools might still face a steep learning curve when it comes to understanding the underlying concepts and best practices.
  • Dependency on Gpg4win for Windows
    On Windows, Kleopatra typically requires Gpg4win to function properly, adding an additional layer of dependency that users need to manage.
  • Occasional Bugs and Stability Issues
    As with many open-source projects, Kleopatra can sometimes suffer from bugs or stability issues, especially when new features are introduced.
  • Complexity for Advanced Configurations
    While basic functions are straightforward, more advanced configurations can be complex and might require significant effort to set up correctly.

OpenPGP Keyserver features and specs

  • Decentralized Architecture
    OpenPGP Keyservers use a decentralized network, meaning there is no single point of failure. This ensures redundancy and reliability in accessing public keys.
  • Public Key Accessibility
    The keyserver network provides a centralized repository for users to upload and search for public keys, simplifying the process of key distribution.
  • Historical Data
    Keyservers maintain records of older keys and their history, which can be useful for audits or verifying past communications.
  • Community-Driven
    The OpenPGP keyserver network is maintained by volunteers and is open source, promoting transparency and community collaboration.

Possible disadvantages of OpenPGP Keyserver

  • Lack of Key Removal
    Once a key is uploaded, it cannot be removed from the keyserver network, which can lead to issues with outdated or compromised keys remaining accessible.
  • Spam and Key Overload
    Keyservers can be flooded with spam keys or outdated information, making it difficult for users to find valid or relevant keys.
  • Vulnerability to Abuse
    The open nature of keyservers can make them targets for malicious actors who wish to upload fraudulent keys or link malicious identities to genuine ones.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Since the keyserver network can be openly queried, there are potential privacy issues regarding who is uploading or searching for certain keys.

Kleopatra videos

No Kleopatra videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

OpenPGP Keyserver videos

Lesson 6: Submit your public key to the OpenPGP Keyserver

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kleopatra and OpenPGP Keyserver)
Security & Privacy
80 80%
20% 20
Encryption
100 100%
0% 0
Email
0 0%
100% 100
File Encryption
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Kleopatra and OpenPGP Keyserver. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenPGP Keyserver should be more popular than Kleopatra. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Kleopatra mentions (1)

  • NASA actually has a page on how to use GPG symmetric encryption
    Kleopatra and GpgFrontend exists since a long time and GPG still hasn't caught on with the masses. GUIs aren't the reason. Source: over 2 years ago

OpenPGP Keyserver mentions (6)

  • Emacs 29 is nigh What can we expect?
    The signature works fine over HTTP/FTP because it needs to be combined with a public key you already have (e.g. a distro package manager will already have the public key for all the packages), or a public key you will go get from a different source, e.g. https://sks-keyservers.net, and it's hard for a middle-man to compromise both. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • keys.gnupg.net down, no longer resolves
    Yes, but I am asking if the reasons for shutting down https://sks-keyservers.net were valid. So far I have not seen any reasonable discussion. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Future of Key-Pools
    I noticed that I could not search on the server in Kleopatra. So I went to the page https://sks-keyservers.net/ and was struck by the header message:. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Keyservers are gone
    I can't find any reliable keyservers since sks-keyservers.net was taken down yesterday. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • PSA: you need to update your keyserver
    SKS keyservers has been shut down owing to GDPR filings. See https://sks-keyservers.net/. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Kleopatra and OpenPGP Keyserver, you can also consider the following products

GnuPG - GnuPG is a complete and free implementation of the OpenPGP standard as defined by RFC4880 (also known as PGP).

OpenPGP - The most widely used email encryption standard. Defined in RFC 4880.

GPG4Win - GPG4Win is an encryption program for files and emails. The program encrypts emails and files so that they can only be read by those intended to receive them.

MIT PGP Public Key Server - The place to publish and search OpenPGP public keys.

VeraCrypt - VeraCrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.

SKS OpenPGP Key server - The place to publish and search OpenPGP public keys.