Paper key
A paper key is a machine-readable print of a cryptographic key. The printed key can be used to decrypt data, e.g. archives or backup data. A paper key can be the result of an offline private key protocol. The offline private key can also function as a token in two-factor authentication.
The idea is that a digital key to decrypt and recover sensitive or personal data should have long-term durability and not be stored on any computer or network. The length of secure cryptographic keys restricts memorization, so the secret key takes the form of a 2D barcode, a machine-readable print. Early implementations of a paper key by the company Safeberg use a Data Matrix barcode[1][2] or human-readable base 16 digits.[3]
The user stores the printed key in a secure location. To avoid abuse, the key can only be used in combination with a ‘normal’ password.
The user can extract the key by creating a digital photo or scan of their paper key and feeding it to cryptographic software that extracts the key to decrypt the data.
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]- ↑ Safeberg Trusted paper key - 4.096 bits RSA key in a Datamatrix barcode Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ safeberg (2010-03-02). Paper key: 4.096 bits RSA key in a Datamatrix 2D barcode. Retrieved 2026-05-11 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Paperkey - an OpenPGP key archiver" by David Shaw
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| Linear barcodes | ||
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| Post office barcodes | ||
| 2D barcodes (stacked) | ||
| 2D barcodes (matrix) | ||
| Polar coordinate barcodes | ||
| Other | ||
| Technological issues | ||
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| Related topics | ||
