Relationships Related Term:  public key cryptography n. ~ In a dual-key encryption system, the sequence of characters that is used to decrypt ciphertext encrypted with the corresponding public key.

A mathematical key (kept secret by the holder) used to create digital signatures and, depending on the algorithm, to decrypt messages or files encrypted (for confidentiality) with the corresponding pu [..]

The confidential half of the asymmetric key pair used in public-key cryptography. Unlike the “secret key” used in symmetric-key cryptography — a single key known by both the sender and the receiver — [..]

1. In a public-key cryptosystem, that key of a user's key pair which is known only to that user. [After X9.42] 2. A cryptographic key created and kept private by a party. Note: A private key may be used for the following: to compute the corresponding public key; to make a digital signature which may be verified by the corresponding public key; [..]

The secret key in a Public Key Cryptography system, used to decrypt incoming messages and sign outgoing ones. See: SSL/TLS Encryption

As part of an asymmetric cryptographic system, the key that is kept secret and known only to the owner.

is the tool used to decrypt messages in an asymmetric encryption scheme. As its name suggests, this key is not made public, unlike the public key used to encrypt the message. See also asymmetric encry [..]

the decryption key of a key pair (the other key in the pair being the public key

The portion of a key pair that is kept secret by the owner of the key pair. Private keys sign or decrypt data.

Public and private keys allow users to communicate securely by giving Web servers and Web browsers the ability to encrypt and decrypt data. Data encrypted with one key can be decrypted by the other, allowing any party with access to a Web site's public key to communicate securely with that Web site. The private key is held on the Web server an [..]

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 priva [..]

A cryptographic key that is used in combination with a public key to decrypt and encrypt data. In contrast to the public key, the private key is kept secret.

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 Private Key is the Key in Asymmetric Cryptography that is kept secret by the owner (End-Entity/Subscriber). The ‘private key’ can be used for authentication and digital signing purposes.

A string of characters that a computer uses to encode or decode the encrypted messages that it receives. Encryption schemes use a pair of keys (one public key and one private key) to create a secret code. When you use an encryption scheme, anyone who looks at messages that your computer sent or received cannot determine the contents of those messag [..]

A private key is a tiny bit of code that is paired with a public key to set off algorithms for text encryption and decryption. It is created as part of public key cryptography during asymmetric-key en [..]

A private key is a string of characters known only to the owner, that is paired with a public key to set off algorithms for text encryption and decryption.

The secret part of the key pair that is used in asymmetric encryption

The unpublished key in asymmetric cryptography.