90 Chapter 5
Avoiding the Web of Trust
Using of the Web of Trust is not necessary for using OpenPGP.
In fact, some users will not want to sign keys or participate
in the Web of Trust at all. The Web of Trust shows everyone in
the world a list of people you have met, after all. If someone
investigates you, signatures on your OpenPGP key will provide
a ready-made list of associates who should also be investigated.
The “network profiling” investigatory technique involves iden-
tifying a hub of activity and drawing lines between this hub
and other groups to identify other hubs. The CIA uses this for
tracking terrorist cells, the DEA uses it to analyze drug traffick-
ing, and the casino industry uses it to identify complex fraud
schemes. The Web of ...