- A public key certificate is a digitally signed document that serves to validate the sender's authorization and name. The document consists of a specially formatted block of data that contains the name of the certificate holder (which may be either a user or a system name) and the holder's public key, as well as the digital signature of a certification authority for authentication. The certification authority attests that the sender's name is the one associated with the public key in the document. A user ID packet, containing the sender's unique identifier, is sent after the certificate packet. There are different types of public key certificates for different functions, such as authorization for a specific action or delegation of authority.
Public key certificates are part of a public key infrastructure that deals with digitally signed documents. The other components are public key encryption, trusted third parties (such as the certification authority), and mechanisms for certificate publication and issuing.
VeriSign addresses MD5 flaw VeriSign is moving completely to the new SHA-1 hash function to avoid a vulnerability affecting SSL certificates. Microsoft and Mozilla also weighed...
authentication server(SearchSecurity.com) An authentication server is an application that facilitates authentication of an entity that attempts to access a network...(Continued)
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.