Digital Signature¶
A Digital Signature is a cryptographic mechanism used to prove that a specific input msg was sent by the owner of a specific private key.^[600-developer__tools__security__openssl.md] It functions by appending a signature to the original message, creating a signed Msg (Input Msg + Digital signature).^[600-developer__tools__security__openssl.md]
The verification process involves using the corresponding public key to validate the input msg.^[600-developer__tools__security__openssl.md] This ensures the authenticity of the message's source.
Public key distribution problem¶
A critical challenge in this system is the distribution of the public key.^[600-developer__tools__security__openssl.md] Because the public key is typically obtained over a network, there is a need to verify that the key received is the correct one.^[600-developer__tools__security__openssl.md] This issue necessitates the involvement of a [[Certificate Authority]] (CA).
Related Concepts¶
- [[Public key]]
- [[Private key]]
- [[CA]]
- OpenSSL
Sources¶
^[600-developer__tools__security__openssl.md]