Public Key

What Does Public Key Mean?

A public key is created in public key encryption cryptography that uses asymmetric-key encryption algorithms. Public keys are used to convert a message into an unreadable format. Decryption is carried out using a different, but matching, private key. Public and private keys are paired to enable secure communication.

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Techopedia Explains Public Key

A public key may be placed in an open access directory for decryption of the digital signature of the sender, the public key of the message recipient encrypts the sender’s message. Public key infrastructure (PKI) produces public and private keys.

The open access public key may also be e-mailed to trusted contacts and users. Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) is a popular form of public key cryptography. Public PGP keys are housed in a public key server directory to allow public key sharing. PGP server directory keys may be updated but not removed.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…