Investigating the OpenPGP web of trust

Alexander Ulrich, Ralph Holz, Peter Hauck, Georg Carle

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present results of a thorough analysis of the OpenPGP Web of Trust. We conducted our analysis on a recent data set with a focus on determining properties like usefulness and robustness. To this end, we analyzed graph topology, identified the strongly connected components and derived properties like verifiability of keys, signature chain lengths and redundant signature paths for nodes. Contrary to earlier works, our analysis revealed the Web of Trust to be only similar to a scale-free network, with different properties regarding the hub structure and its influence on overall connectivity. We also analyzed the community structure of the Web of Trust and mapped it to social relationships. Finally, we present statistics which cryptographic algorithms are in use and give recommendations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationComputer Security, ESORICS 2011 - 16th European Symposium on Research in Computer Security, Proceedings
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages489-507
Number of pages19
ISBN (Print)9783642238215
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Event16th European Symposium on Research in Computer Security, ESORICS 2011 - Leuven, Belgium
Duration: 12 Sep 201114 Sep 2011

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume6879 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference16th European Symposium on Research in Computer Security, ESORICS 2011
Country/TerritoryBelgium
CityLeuven
Period12/09/1114/09/11

Keywords

  • Community Structure
  • GnuPG
  • OpenPGP
  • PGP
  • Web of Trust

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Investigating the OpenPGP web of trust'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this