apt-key Cheat Sheet

This little cheat sheet describes some basic command you will need to use if your working with a debian system.

Manage apt's list of trusted keys
apt-key add somekey.pub - add the key contained in somekey.pub
apt-key del somekey.pub - remove the key somekey.pub
apt-key export somekey.pub - output the key somekey.pub
apt-key exportall - output all trusted keys
apt-key update - update keys using the keyring package
apt-key net-update - update keys using the network
apt-key list - list keys
apt-key finger - list fingerprints
apt-key adv - pass advanced options to gpg (download key)

real world example:

> apt-key list

pub 1024D/F42584E6 2008-04-06 [expires: 2012-05-15]
uid Lenny Stable Release Key

pub 4096R/55BE302B 2009-01-27 [expires: 2012-12-31]
uid Debian Archive Automatic Signing Key (5.0/lenny)

pub 2048R/6D849617 2009-01-24 [expires: 2013-01-23]
uid Debian-Volatile Archive Automatic Signing Key (5.0/lenny

> apt-key del 6D849617

- ADDING A KEY TO THE KEYRING

> apt-key add /path/to/keyfile.asc or .pub