NAME

SYNOPSIS

    $key = new Crypt::RSA::Key::Private (
                Identity => 'Lord Banquo <banquo@lochaber.com>',
                Password => 'The earth hath bubbles',
           );

    $key->hide();

    $key->write( Filename => 'rsakeys/banquo.private'  );

    $akey = new Crypt::RSA::Key::Private (
                 Filename => 'rsakeys/banquo.private'
                );   

    $akey->reveal ( Password => 'The earth hath bubbles' );

DESCRIPTION

new()

The constructor. Takes a hash, usually with two arguments: "Filename" and "Password". "Filename" indicates a file from which the private key should be read. More often than not, private keys are kept encrypted with a symmetric cipher and MUST be decrypted before use. When a "Password" argument is provided, the key is also decrypted before it is returned by "new()". Here's a complete list of arguments accepted by "new()" (all of which are optional):

reveal()

If the key is not decrypted at "new()", it can be decrypted by calling "reveal()" with a "Password" argument.

hide()

"hide()" causes the key to be encrypted by the chosen symmetric cipher and password.

write()

Causes the key to be written to a disk file specified by the "Filename" argument. "write()" will call "hide()" before writing the key to disk. If you wish to store the key in plain, don't specify a password at "new()".

read()

Causes the key to be read from a disk file specified by "Filename" into the object. If "Password" is provided, the method automatically calls reveal() to decrypt the key.

serialize()

Creates a Data::Dumper(3) serialization of the private key and returns the string representation.

deserialize()

Accepts a serialized key under the "String" parameter and coverts it into the perl representation stored in the object.

"check()"

Check the consistency of the key. If the key checks out, it sets $self->{Checked} = 1. Returns undef on failure.

AUTHOR

SEE ALSO