Using free command line tools until GNotary becomes available

• anything written in red is what you have to enter at the system prompt
  

1. Get the GNU Privacy Guard from http://www.gnupg.org and install it
2. Download the PDF documentation , optionally print it out, but READ IT!
3. Generate your own keyset:, following the instructions available here.
4. Take your time to thin of a pass phrase that you can memorize. Read the instructions regarding pass phrases carefully!
5. Exchange keys with a trusted 3rd party like your Divison of General Practice
6. Make a compressed backup of the files you want to notarize with your favourite backup software
7. Sign the compressed backup file with gpg -ba <your-file-name>
8. This will create a file <your-file-name>.asc after you entered your passphrase at the prompt
9. Check the signature with gpg --verify <your-file-name>.asc <your-file-name>
   
10. A message will show you when your document has been signed, what algorithm and key had been used, who had signed your document, and whether the integrity of your document can be guaranteed.
11. Send this message by email to your trusted third party
12. Your trusted third party signs the message same way as you did, just    using their private key for the signature
13. Then they email it back to you. Keep both your signature and theirs.
14. In order to be able to verify their signature, you need to import their    public key.
15. Make regular backups of your signatures and keyrings.
16. Keep track of which file has been notarized with which signature
17. Never ever give your private key away. Keep it the same way as if would be a million Dollars in cash. Never ever even think about writing your passphrase down.