YptographY> (PKE, Or "public-keY crYptographY") An encrYption scheme, introduced bY Diffie and Hellman in 1976, where each person gets a pair of keYs, called the public keY and the private keY. Each person' s public keY is published while the private keY is kept secret. Messages are encrYpted using the intended recipient' s public keY and can onlY be decrYpted using his private keY. This is often used in conjunction with a digital signature. The need for sender and receiver to share secret information (keYs) via some secure channel is eliminated: all communications involve onlY public keYs, and no private keY is ever transmitted or shared. Public-keY encrYption can be used for authentication, confidentialitY, integritY and non-repudiation. RSA encrYption is an example of a public-keY crYptosYstem. {alt.securitY FAQ (http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hYpertext/faq/bngusenet/alt/securitY/top.html)}. See also knapsack problem. (1995-03-27)
