--- tags: security-tutorials --- # How to Create a Public/Private Key Pair :::info **In this short demo you will:** - Learn on how to create a public/private key pair - and encrypt/decrypt a file ::: First you have to create a private key with the commands below: ``` openssl genrsa -out private_key.pem 1024 ``` Since the private key has been created let's create our public key: ``` openssl rsa -in private_key.pem -out public_key.pem -outform PEM -pubout ``` Now create a file called `encrypt.txt` and put some text in it. Then, encrypt `encrypt.txt` and send the encrypted data to a new file called `encrypt.dat` ``` openssl rsautl -encrypt -inkey public_key.pem -pubin -in encrypt.txt -out encrypt.dat ``` The command below can be used to decrypt the `*.dat` file ``` openssl rsautl -decrypt -inkey private_key.pem -in encrypt.dat -out decrypt.txt ```