Customizing PGP Version Header in OpenPGP Messages

When generating OpenPGP messages, a Version header is automatically included to indicate the originating software. By default, this value is set by the component and appears in the output message.

-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----
Version: IPWorks OpenPGP 2020
yMC1ATXKTUhaAQAA4OdPhppMG2SluWgSdTAlC9NGEFGGYjELKn8mPFSsnhluTKGD
lDsElhQ2pxQkQTkmG1kHCwKHFSZqYIqBEVQgRRmRBZHzrejQ+ft2CCgAifAxLW/8
YpcHESaBgDhno2lUEKSrNOj0kDLwV4YGEEgAU4B8EQCHJb72j6ZCuJQKm4fQKuXe
vf3gsr6B+3/wrA08T/dcdrocsfFkmX9+LHi9lISrIu3MPQ6XmLKzWjq62JyB+In6
V+vy3ETUeGHtM/5Ufvl+LjOpqQq/c/o0W00kHQ78/sSuY1B0K6mNEsPC6DxLsBXi
f3ZvUDZvmnxk8q0Iq/GohAHryKo+T5HTF2El5mi/keAUhgBvwpmpBeNhhgisUUD4
oD2znja/c0w+LX8zo3BX2h+8u2iUnv/Hp3mb3TxcBFXxVbrY+7ZoJjt5XD4seSi2
kSS73e+1/QlpdXoNkl0zi7C+wB+BxaYwgjE5/lG7ndsVdcxOfTh4Bg==
=9b/T
-----END PGP MESSAGE-----

The VersionHeader configuration setting allows this value to be overridden with a user-defined string, enabling the message to identify your application instead of the default component value. For example:

//C#
Key key = new Key("C:\\MyKeyring", "myuser@mail.com");
key.Passphrase = "password";
pgp.Keys.Add(key);
pgp.InputMessage = "hello world";
pgp.Config("VersionHeader=My Application");
pgp.ASCIIArmor = true;
pgp.Sign();
String encryptedMsg = pgp.OutputMessage;

After setting this option, the generated message will include the custom Version header:

-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----
Version: My Application
yMCyATXKQUhaAQAA0P9/1nLwLaEOIR+UrIh0QgexrxSjg3QwNjtkaJ80C7HfxCQ6
FSFFzCGVHqICcQxFMQix1LTWMHWrJIsioZWbGoGgQmJRUjk67PxeEC4DINDD+lK1
KzQ7wEOyDBAWjQXFEI6rqBOqMVwe+CEhACAEVJRDrwK8JVb/79ajNyXFmeZ9iNU/
yxWM/vmlTeW8W/5QmZqKxsgMhLi/xvcundDyQubftCJQFFlQJxPhtsGS7J4rO11K
opGPL3QTTXqvbDSxufVwC8YY0aXjOt5Ow20LRrwLXiXqeE9zfZCFDRO0pJkk+Ey5
WRnK8/Lou5+nx8qo7/JTFz65aGtOdthr7hd2ozHNwTf/V2Ste2AqLmIO/x5vM1vF
KWzDLsh9UBaQTnlgfn1Qv+yu8zVpMu7eCweL8nm1nSN1GOkP5zqnT2TgaGtJLm46
0urh94gphrA6Uwhj7O8Cvf42FKnctCHebRKEumQGNPGIXWv+AQ==
=yHVX
-----END PGP MESSAGE-----

This allows full control over how the originating application is represented in the PGP message header.