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What are these strange ASC files that accompany the ISO CD images?

April 26, 2017accompany ASC CD files images ISO Strange

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What are these strange ASC files that accompany the ISO CD images?

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Most users can ignore the .asc files. If there is ever an uncertainty as whether or not the ISO image file and its accompanying MD5 file are originals & untampered, then the .asc files are important. The .asc files are digital signature messages. Digital signatures are a method of authenticating digital information similar to ordinary physical signatures on paper, but implemented using techniques from the field of cryptography. With this you can be sure the ISO image and accompanying MD5 file are genuine, because the .asc file containing the MD5 is signed with Klaus Knopper’s PGP key. To verify the file, you need to import PGP key ID 0xBA8F038D from your favorite keyserver, then in Linux you can type “gpg –verify KNOPPIX_Vxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.iso.md5.asc”. Then you must check that the MD5 checksum in the .asc file is the same that the MD5 checksum in the .md5 file.