How to Verify a Mirror PGP Signature
Trust is proven
Trust is not given. It is proven. Every serious marketplace publishes its public key and signs official announcements. If you skip this step, you risk landing on a spoofed site that drains your wallet before you even log in. Start by fetching the market PGP key from an independent source. Do not copy it from the mirror itself. Use a secondary channel like a verified handle or a trusted forum post. Once you have the fingerprint, compare it with the one displayed on the current interface. Mismatches mean trouble. Stop immediately.
Run the check
Next, download the signed file or message. Most markets provide a .sig file alongside their latest update notice. Import both into GnuPG or any compatible client. Run the verification command. The output should confirm that the signature is good and matches the key you imported. A valid signature proves the content came from the holder of the private key. It does not guarantee the server behind it is safe, but it confirms the message was not altered in transit.
When it fails
What happens if verification fails? You might see an error stating the signature is bad or the key is unknown. This usually means someone intercepted the data or replaced the key. Do not proceed until you resolve the conflict. Check community forums for recent warnings about compromised mirrors. Sometimes a market rotates keys during a migration. In those cases, they announce the change in advance through multiple channels. If no announcement exists, assume breach. Move your funds to a cold storage address. Wait for consensus among experienced users before reconnecting.
Keep the keyring fresh
Regularly update your keyring. Old keys become obsolete as infrastructure changes. Set reminders to check for new fingerprints monthly. Keep a local backup of all trusted keys in an offline location. Cloud sync introduces unnecessary attack vectors. Your goal is absolute certainty about who you are talking to. Verification takes two minutes. Ignoring it can cost thousands of dollars.