I'm using openssl to sign files, it works but I would like the private key file is encrypted with a password. These are the commands I'm using, I would like to know the equivalent commands.
- Openssl Genrsa Passphrase Argument
- Openssl Commands To Generate Private Key Without Passphrase Download
- Public Private Key Encryption
- Use Openssl To Generate Key Pair
- Advantages Of Private Key Encryption
Deciding on Key Generation Options
When generating a key, you have to decide three things: the key algorithm, the key size, and whether to use a passphrase.
Openssl Genrsa Passphrase Argument
Key Algorithm
Openssl Commands To Generate Private Key Without Passphrase Download
For the key algorithm, you need to take into account its compatibility. For this reason, we recommend you use RSA. However, if you have a specific need to use another algorithm (such as ECDSA), you can use that too, but be aware of the compatibility issues you might run into.
Note: This guide only covers generating keys using the RSA algorithm.
Key Size
Public Private Key Encryption
For the key size, you need to select a bit length of at least 2048 when using RSA and 256 when using ECDSA; these are the smallest key sizes allowed for SSL certificates. Unless you need to use a larger key size, we recommend sticking with 2048 with RSA and 256 with ECDSA.
Note: In older versions of OpenSSL, if no key size is specified, the default key size of 512 is used. Any key size lower than 2048 is considered unsecure and should never be used.
Use Openssl To Generate Key Pair
Passphrase
Advantages Of Private Key Encryption
For the passphrase, you need to decide whether you want to use one. If used, the private key will be encrypted using the specified encryption method, and it will be impossible to use without the passphrase. Because there are pros and cons with both options, it's important you understand the implications of using or not using a passphrase. In this guide, we will not be using a passphrase in our examples.