Cryptosplit 2.0

One possible application is to split up your PGP secret key file this way and distribute the pieces to trusted friends such that several of them have to cooperate to recover your key. Then if you accidentally lose your key you can get the pieces back from your friends.

I don't need to worry much about losing my secret key. I can keep as many backup copies as I like, in as many different places as I like -- all securely encrypted with my passphrase. The application for secret sharing would be to allow some subset of trusted people to regenerate your secret key *without your assistance*. I could see several situations in which a voluntary scheme like this could be useful, the main one being if you were to die unexpectedly. Phil