I created an ssh key with the command ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "myname@myemail.com"
.
I put a passphrase.
It created two files : id_rsa and id_rsa.pub .
I am surprised because, when I do less id_rsa
, I can read the key without there being a request for my passphrase. There is no word "encrypted" in the text.
I thought it was possible because the passphrase was not requested for me and only me but, if I copy the id_rsa file in the /home of another user, the result is the same: this user can see the key and the word "encrypted" does not appear.
I specify that I had to give reading rights with chmod but I don't understand: why the passphrase is not requested?
Thank you a lot!
-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n Proc-Type: 4,ENCRYPTED
, i.e. there is a clear sign that the key is encrypted. Of course it will ask for the passphrase only when the key needs to be used and not when viewing the encrypted key withless
since the key is encrypted and not the key file. – Steffen Ullrich Nov 29 '19 at 16:47Proc-Type: 4,ENCRYPTED
, that's what I read on different websites and that's what seems odd to me... If you can read the key withless
then security seems reduced, no? – Beretta Nov 29 '19 at 18:32