openpgp-paper-backup

I’ve been using OpenPGP through GnuPG since early 2000’. It’s an essential part of Debian Developer’s workflow. We use it regularly to authenticate package uploads and votes. Proper backups of that key are really important.

Up until recently, the only reliable option for me was backing up a tarball of my ~/.gnupg offline on a set few flash drives. This approach is better than nothing, but it’s not nearly as reliable as I’d like it to be. The main reason is that data on a flash drive degrades over time. You have to remember to periodically plug the flash drive into your computer’s USB port because the electric charge that represents your data wears off with time. I always wanted a more durable medium that I could store both, at home and in a safety deposit box.