What is SSH (Secure Shell) key?

The official statement is that an “SSH key is an access credential used in the SSH protocol.” It is commonly used to automate signing into a server and to ensure secure password-less access. This means you don’t have to enter the root password each time you log in from your specific device.

How do you generate an SSH keygen on Windows 11?

The SSH Key can be generated using the command prompt. You can open it by pressing Windows Key + R and typing “cmd” It should look like this:

You can enter the command into Command Prompt to request the new ssh-keygen. Command below:

ssh-keygen

Where to find the generated SSH key on your computer?

Navigate to <This PC -> OS (C:) -> Users -> (your username) -> .ssh -> id_rsa>

The Id_rsa file can be opened with Notepad. You can copy and paste the code and use it with your hosting provider.

Theory matters. How does the SSH key work?

SSH keys use various encryption algorithms, with RSA, DSA, and ECDSA being the most commonly used. When you connect to a server, you use your private key to prove your identity. The server then verifies this against your registered public key.

You start an SSH connection using the ssh command. During this process, the server sends a challenge encrypted with your public key. You respond to this challenge to prove your identity. This type of connection ensures safety and data integrity during transmission. It's also much harder to brute-force compared to a root password.