For more information about PGP visit PGPi.org . A unique identification number that is generated when the key is created. This is the primary means by which you can check the authenticity of a key. The best way to check a fingerprint is to have the owner read their fingerprint to you over the phone so that you can compare it with the fingerprint shown for your copy of their public key. The fingerprint can be viewed in two ways, in a unique list of words or in its hexadecimal format.
Hexadecimal view displays the fingerprint as a unique series of hexadecimal numbers.
By default, this option is disabled and the fingerprint is displayed as a unique series of words. When verifying a PGP public key fingerprint, you can now choose to view the fingerprint as a word list instead of hexadecimal characters. The word list in the fingerprint text box is made up of special authentication words that PGP uses and are carefully selected to be phonetically distinct and easy to understand without phonetic ambiguity. 6.5.8 User s Guide pp. In the past it was difficult to know for certain whether a key belonged to a particular individual unless that person physically handed the key to you on a floppy disk.