Key Terms

Review the following list of key terms:

• asymmetric encryption Encryption that uses different keys for encryption and decryption.

• certificate authority (CA) A central authority that oversees the certificate creation and delivery process.

• digital certificate An encrypted data structure used to distribute a public key.

• digital signature An encrypted string used to verify the identity of the sender and the integrity of the data.

• encryption The process of systematically altering data to make it unreadable to unauthorized users.

• encryption algorithm A mathematical formula or procedure used to encrypt data.

• encryption key A value (usually kept secret) used with the encryption algorithm to encrypt or decrypt data.

• IPSec (IP Security) A security protocol system consisting of extensions to the IP protocol.

• KDC (Key Distribution Center) A server that manages the key distribution process on Kerberos networks.

• Kerberos A network authentication system designed for secure access to services over hostile networks.

• private key A key used in asymmetric encryption that is kept secret and not distributed on the network.

• public key A key used in asymmetric encryption that is distributed over the network.

• SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) A security protocol system originally developed by Netscape that operates above the TCP protocol.

• symmetric encryption Encryption for which the encryption key and the decryption key are the same.

• X.509 A standard that describes the digital certificate process and format.