In computer security, a key that is known only to its owner. Contrast with public key.
The key used in PKI to generate a Digital Signature and encrypt data or messages.
One of two keys used in public key cryptography. The private key is known only to the owner and is used to sign and decrypt messages.
One member of a key pair used in an asymmetric algorithm. An entity uses its private key to decrypt data that has been encrypted with its public key. The entity can also use its private key to create digital signatures. The security of data encrypted with the entity's public key as well as signatures created by the private key depends on the private key remaining secret.
The key of a public key pair that is known only to an individual user.
Often called the decryption key and sometimes called the secret key.
A mathematically-derived code provided by a certificate authority. The private key is stored in the user's computer and is not accessible to the public. It can be combined with the public key to encrypt and decrypt messages (also see PKI).
The mathematical value of an asymmetric key pair that is not shared with trading partners. The private key works in conjunction with the public key to encrypt and decrypt data. For example, when the private key is used to encrypt data, only the public key can successfully decrypt that data.
A type of security that works in a public-key infrastructure, involving pairs of key strings. The private key part of this pair is stored on the smart card.
An encryption key used in asymmetric encryption, which allows both decryption and creation of digital signatures. A private key is known only to the user in a public key cryptography system and is used in conjunction with a public key.
The secret half of a public key pair. See public key cryptography.
A number that is derived from a password and used by an encryption algorithm. The ASDSP initiator and recipient each have a private key, which is used in the authentication process. The private key is also called a user key or client key.
a key in an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm; the possession of this key is restricted, usually to one entity.e
a function of two large prime numbers, and the corresponding public key is a function of the product of these numbers (also known as modulus
a key that a server or client keeps confidential
an encryption key known only by a select group of clients
a number (usually a very large number) that is mathematically related to its associated Public Key and is used in Public Key Cryptography
a piece of data that is needed to decrypt an encrypted message
a secret key, used in Asymmetric Encryption
A private or secret key is an encryption/decryption key known only to the party or parties that exchange secret messages.
In symmetric cryptography, the private key is the part of the public/private key pair that is kept secret by the owner.
The private part of a two-part, public key cryptography system. The private key is kept secret and never transmitted over a network.
A key for both encryption and decryption. It exists with a public key, but is kept secret by the owner.
One of a pair of corresponding asymmetric keys, remaining under its owner sole control. Used for creating signatures in electronic signature systems. In encryption systems it is used for decryption.
One of two keys (private and public) in a Public Key Cryptography system, the private key is kept secret and used only by its owner to decrypt incoming messages. The private key is also used to sign outgoing messages with a Digital Signature.
Cryptographic key used in public key cryptography to sign and/or decrypt information.
The element of a public/private key pair that is kept secret by the key pair owner. The private key is used to decrypt messages that have been encrypted by the corresponding public key. It is also used to construct a digital signature – the document to be signed is hashed using a secure hash algorithm and then the hashed value is encrypted using the private key; this process forms the digital signature.
A mathematical value related to the public key that is stored in encrypted text on the borrower's computer or a separate device such as a smartcard. This key is also protected with a password or PIN to avoid compromise or disclosure. The private key is used to encrypt information that can only be decrypted by the corresponding public key.
One half of a key pair under public key cryptography. The private key is a secret key held to decrypt messages sent to a receiver that has been encoded using their freely available public key. See public key infrastructure.
a key kept by an issuer which is paired with a public key, in public key encryption. Either key can encrypt data, the corresponding key is required to decrypt data. The issuer may the private key to digitally sign data.
One of the two keys used in an asymmetric encryption system. For secure communication, the private key should only be known to its creator.
A secret encryption key known only by its owner. Only the corresponding public key can decrypt messages encrypted using the private key.
A secret key for encrypting a message, or for decrypting a message encrypted in your public key (See public key).
A mathematical key (kept secret by the owner) that is used to create digital signatures or to decrypt messages or files.
Private keys, a.k.a. secret keys, are used in asymmetric cryptography. One of their primary purposes is to enable someone to use a public key to encrypt data that can only be decrypted by the owner of the corresponding private key. Private keys should not be distributed. See asymmetric cryptography.
(RFC 2828) The secret component of a pair of cryptographic keys used for asymmetric cryptography. In a public key cryptosystem that key of a user's key pair which is known only by that user.
The portion of a key pair that is kept secret by the owner of a key pair to sign or decrypt data.
One of a pair of keys used for encryption. A message encrypted with the public key must be decrypted with the private key. Part of a Digital ID.
The key in public key cryptography that is kept private by an individual or organisation.
An encryption key that is used only by a limited number of communicating parties, because it needs to be kept secret.
Please see the TechDesk Article Digital Signatures
The secret component of public key encryption.
The secret half of a key pair used in a public key algorithm. Private keys are typically used to encrypt a symmetric session key, digitally sign a message, or decrypt a message that has been encrypted with the corresponding public key. See also public key.
In secure communication, an algorithmic pattern used to encrypt messages that only the corresponding public key can decrypt. The private key is also used to decrypt messages that were encrypted by the corresponding public key. The private key is kept on the user's system and is protected by a password.
The decryption key in Public-Key cryptography, only the reciever has it
the secret key of a public-private key cryptography system. This key is used to "sign" outgoing messages, and is used to decrypt incoming messages.
This is one of the two keys used in 'public key cryptography', also referred to as asymmetric cryptography. They are called public and private because for the system to work, one of the related keys must be kept private - it must not be disclosed to anyone other than its controller, whilst the other key must be made public - that is must be available to anyone that needs to contact the owner/controller of the matching private key or needs to check a digital signature that appears to come from them.
This is a secret key, known only by the parties involved in a transaction.
Key used in public key crypto that belongs to an individual entity and must be kept secret.
One of a pair of keys used in public-key cryptography. The private key is kept secret and is used to decrypt data encrypted with the corresponding public key.
A data file storing a mathematical key which is assigned and known only to a single individual, used for creating digital signature and decrypting messages previously encrypted by the sender, using the individual's own public key.
Also called the secret key, this key is used for the decryption of data. Only the receiver has access to the private key.
The part of the key in a public key system which is kep secret and is only used by its owner. See Public Key Encryption. Return to the top
A cryptographic key known only to the user, employed in public key cryptography in decrypting or signing information
the secret key, to which only its owner has access to. The open key corresponds to a secret key.
One of the pair of keys used in a public key cryptographic system. This key is kept secret and used to decrypt messages encrypted with a public key
A cryptographic key known only to the owner. Or, the secret component of an asymmetric cryptographic key. (See also "PKA" public key algorithm).
A private key is numeric code used to decrypt messages encrypted with a unique corresponding public key. Integrity of encryption depends on the private key being kept secret.
One of two keys in public key encryption. The user keeps the private key secret and uses it to encrypt digital signatures and to decrypt received messages.
The half of a key pair which must be kept secret to ensure confidentiality, integrity, authenticity and non-repudiation of messages.
A Private Key is (1) the key of a signature key pair used to create a digital signature or (2) the key of an encryption key pair used to decrypt confidential information. In both cases, this key must be kept secret.
One key of a key pair that an organization does not distribute. Only the private key can decrypt information encrypted by the associated public key. Because the organization that owns the key pair is the only entity with the private key, a message encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted and read by that organization.
The decryption key used in public-key encryption.
The part of a key pair that is kept secret and is used only by its owner. This is the key used for decrypting messages and for making digital signatures.
A unique identifier for a buyer or seller that is only issued to them. They use it so that they are the proven sender of a message or transaction or the party the message was intended for. It is part of a public key encryption scheme to enable secure e-commerce using encryption based on Digital certificates (keys) .
In secure communications, an algorithmic pattern used to encrypt messages that can be decrypted only by the corresponding public key. A private key is also used to decrypt messages that were encrypted by the corresponding public key. You keep your private key on your own system in a key ring, protected by a password. See also encryption, public key, and key ring.
A key that is given to each user principal, and known only to the user of the principal and to the KDC. For user principals, the key is based on the user's password. See also key.
A secret mathematical key used to create a digital signature or decrypt messages or files. Private keys are secret and can only be used by their owners.
In a public key cryptosystem, the key of the entity's key pair that is known only to that entity.
The secret key in a → Public Key Cryptography system, used to decrypt incoming messages and sign outgoing ones. See: SSL/TLS Encryption
Private Key is the Key in Asymmetric Cryptography that is kept secret by the owner (End-Entity). Can be used for encryption or decryption
A digital code used to decrypt data and verify digital signatures. This key is kept secret, and is known only to its owner.
In asymmetric encryption, the private key is one of two keys in a keypair. The user keeps the private key secret and typically uses it to digitally sign data, or to decrypt data that has been encrypted with the corresponding public key. See also: asymmetric encryption, digital signature, public key
A type of key that is only known by a specific user. It is a fixed-length security string that is stored in a local encrypted security file on each user's computer and used to unseal and sign messages. Exchange actually uses two private keys: one for unsealing messages and one for signing messages. See also Sealing, Signing.
An encryption/decryption key known only to the party or parties that exchange secret messages. This private key is used in conjunction with public keys to create signed packages.
A mathematical key (kept secret by the holder) used to create digital signatures and depending upon the algorithm, to decrypt messages or files encrypted (for confidentiality) with the corresponding public key.
The key you keep secret in public-key cryptography systems. You use your private key to decrypt encrypted data sent to you by other people, who used your public key to encrypt it. You also use your private key to sign email messages; your recipients then use your public key to verify your signature.
Part of PKI (i.e., one half of a key pair). Decrypts data that the same user's public key encrypted.
The secret portion of a keypair; used to sign and decrypt information. A user"s private key should be kept secret, known only to the user.
The key that a user keeps secret in asymmetric encryption. It can encrypt or decrypt data for a single transaction but cannot do both.
The key of a Key Pair kept secret by its holder, used to create Digital Signatures and to decrypt messages or files encrypted with the corresponding Public Key. (See Key Pair, Public Key, Public Key Cryptography.)
sed to encrypt a message but kept private to the originator.
In a PKI, a cryptographic key created and kept private by a subscriber. It may be used to make digital signatures which may be verified by the corresponding public key; to decrypt the message encrypted by the corresponding public key; or, with other information, to compute a piece of common shared secret information.
The private part of a key pair. Depending on the type of certificate the key corresponds to it may typically be found in $HOME/.globus/userkey.pem (for user certificates), /etc/grid-security/hostkey.pem (for host certificates) or /etc/grid-security/service/service key.pem (for service certificates). For more information on possible private key locations see the Credentials
The decryption (reception) or encryption (signature) component of an asymmetric key set.
Ciphering key used in a public key algorithm (also referred to as asymmetrical). It is kept secret (in a smart card, for instance, much safer than the hard drive of a PC). It forms a pair with its matching public key. Only the owner of that key can decipher the coded messages, using the public key. It can be used as a ciphering key (and deciphered by its public key) only to do digital signatures.
In public-key cryptography, this key is the secret key. It is primarily used for decryption but is also used for encryption with digital signatures.
The half of a key pair that is kept secret by the owner of the key pair. Private keys can sign or decrypt data.
The secret half of a cryptographic key pair that is used with a public key algorithm. Private keys are typically used to decrypt a symmetric session key, digitally sign data, or decrypt data that has been encrypted with the corresponding public key. See also: public key; public key encryption
Concealed key held by only one person in public key cryptography. It is never shared.
Decryption key is often called private key in public-key systems. A private key is also used for signing a message.
In a public key cryptosystem, key material that is bound tightly to an individual entity that must remain secret in order for there to be secure communication.
The "secret" component of an asymmetric key pair, often referred to as the decryption key. In a key pair (composed of a public key and a private key), it is essential that you keep the private key to yourself. See also asymmetric key, key pair, and public key.
A type of key used to decode encrypted messages, known only to the sender and recipient of a message.
the privately held 'secret' component of an integrated asymmetric key pair, often referred to as the decryption key.
The key used to decrypt cyphertext in public-key cryptography.
The private part of an asymmetric encryption schema, known only to the owner and never transmitted over the network.
In encryption, one key (or password) is used to both lock and unlock data. Compare with 'public key'.