Computers and Computing

A Dictionary of the Internet Computer Sciences A Dictionary of the Internet A Dictionary of the Internet Further reading

public key encryption

A Dictionary of the Internet | 2001 | | Copyright

public key encryption An alternative to SYMMETRIC KEY ENCRYPTION. It uses two keys: a PUBLIC KEY and a PRIVATE KEY. The former, as the name suggests, can be made available to parties other than the sender or receiver of a message that is undergoing ENCRYPTION. The latter is used by the receiver of the message. The receiver of a message broadcasts the public key; this is used to encrypt a message; the receiver then uses the private key to apply DECRYPTION to the message in order to convert it to its original form. The advantage of this form of transmission is that there is no need to transmit keys using a secure transmission medium. The disadvantage is that it is much slower compared to symmetric key encryption. Much communication over the Internet is two way and in practice two sets of public and private keys are employed by the sender and recipient of messages. In practice, public key encryption is not used for the bulk transmission of messages. It is used for short messages or as a medium for transmitting SECRET KEYS used in SYMMETRIC KEY ENCRYPTION. For example, the SECURE SOCKETS LAYER uses PUBLIC KEY ENCRYPTION to send the keys involved in the SYMMETRIC KEY ENCRYPTION scheme used for sending secure data across the Internet.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DARREL INCE. "public key encryption." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DARREL INCE. "public key encryption." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-publickeyencryption.html

DARREL INCE. "public key encryption." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-publickeyencryption.html

Learn more about citation styles

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

Computer Sciences | 2002 | Copyright

PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE (PKI)

A public key infrastructure (PKI) is a system designed to facilitate the use of public/ private keys in encryption. The public keys are published but a private one is held securely by each individual in the network. A message can be sent to individuals using the public key to encrypt it, but only the holder of the private key can decipher it.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)." Computer Sciences. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)." Computer Sciences. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401200274.html

"Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)." Computer Sciences. 2002. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401200274.html

Learn more about citation styles

public key infrastructure

A Dictionary of the Internet | 2001 | | Copyright

public key infrastructure The set of procedures, standards, and software necessary to provide services associated with PUBLIC KEY ENCRYPTION and DIGITAL SIGNATURES. The main purpose of a public key infrastructure is to maintain and administer the KEYS and digital signatures that are registered with it.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DARREL INCE. "public key infrastructure." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DARREL INCE. "public key infrastructure." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-publickeyinfrastructure.html

DARREL INCE. "public key infrastructure." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-publickeyinfrastructure.html

Learn more about citation styles

public key

A Dictionary of the Internet | 2001 | | Copyright

public key One of the two keys involved in PUBLIC KEY ENCRYPTION. This is the key that is made publicly available to anyone who wants to send a message. The message is decrypted using a PRIVATE KEY by the person who made the public key available.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DARREL INCE. "public key." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DARREL INCE. "public key." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-publickey.html

DARREL INCE. "public key." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-publickey.html

Learn more about citation styles