Minisign is a user-friendly tool designed for signing files and verifying signatures in a straightforward and efficient manner. Developed by Frank Denis (jedisct1), Minisign aims to provide a simple yet reliable solution for users who require cryptographic signatures for file authentication and integrity verification.
Here are the key features and aspects of Minisign:
- Simple and Intuitive Interface: Minisign features a minimalist command-line interface (CLI) that is easy to use, even for users with limited technical expertise. The tool offers clear and concise commands for signing files and verifying signatures, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- File Signing: With Minisign, users can generate cryptographic signatures for files using their private key. This process involves selecting the file to be signed and specifying the location of the private key file. Minisign generates a compact signature file that can be easily attached to or distributed alongside the original file.
- Signature Verification: Minisign allows users to verify the authenticity and integrity of signed files by checking their signatures against the corresponding public key. The tool verifies signatures quickly and efficiently, providing users with confidence in the validity of their files.
- Security and Cryptography: Minisign employs strong cryptographic algorithms to ensure the security and integrity of signed files. It uses the Ed25519 digital signature algorithm, which offers a high level of security and resistance to various cryptographic attacks.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Minisign is designed to be compatible with multiple operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and Windows. This ensures that users can utilize Minisign on their preferred platform without encountering compatibility issues.
- Lightweight and Portable: Minisign is a lightweight and portable tool that does not require installation or dependencies. Users can simply download the Minisign binary for their operating system and start using it immediately, making it convenient for both individual users and system administrators.
- Open Source: Minisign is an open-source project released under the ISC License, meaning that its source code is freely available for inspection, modification, and redistribution by anyone. This fosters transparency, collaboration, and community contributions to the development of Minisign.
minisign Command Examples
1. Generate a new keypair at the default location:
# minisign -G
2. Sign a file:
# minisign -Sm [path/to/file]
3. Sign a file, adding a trusted (signed) and an untrusted (unsigned) comment in the signature:
# minisign -Sm [path/to/file] -c "[Untrusted comment]" -t "[Trusted comment]"
4. Verify a file and the trusted comments in its signature using the specified public key file:
# minisign -Vm [path/to/file] -p [path/to/publickey.pub]
5. Verify a file and the trusted comments in its signature, specifying a public key as a Base64 encoded literal:
# minisign -Vm [path/to/file] -P "[public_key_base64]"
Summary
Overall, Minisign provides a straightforward and reliable solution for signing files and verifying signatures, making it suitable for a variety of use cases, including software distribution, file sharing, and data authentication. Its simplicity, security, and cross-platform compatibility make it a valuable tool for users who require cryptographic signatures for file integrity and authenticity verification.