After reading a post by @trogdor https://steemit.com/steem/@trogdor/steemit-newbies-make-sure-to-save-your-private-keys I decided to backup and secure my keys.
The author suggests using truecrypt to encrypt then store the volume on a drive, or print out for a paper backup.
Good advise.
I don't have a printer, and not fond of paper. Encrypting with truecrypt is a fine option, but I don't trust any local drive/media, because I live in a harsh environment.
So I could scp/copy the file to my vps, but what if a don't pay my bill to keep it running?
The steem blockchain will outlast all of the above, so I will use it to store my encrypted keys.
I am going to use gpg to encrypt keys with password.
I am using gpg because of its ease of access...the ability to get/use the program from almost any computer.
@matthewdavid created a nice guide for using gpg that suits this use: https://steemit.com/crypto/@matthewdavid/the-crypto-lifestyle-encrypt-files-with-gpg
Once you encrypt you key the text output will look like this:
-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----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=ZQql
-----END PGP MESSAGE-----
That's it!
Now if I loose my keys, I can go to @beveryting and search my posts for this one, copy the text, and decrypt with any computer, anytime, anywhere :)