Public-Key Cryptography Standards

cryptography, standard (PKCS) A set of standards for

public-key cryptography, developed by RSA Data Security,Inc. in cooperation with an informal consortium, originally

including Apple, Microsoft, DEC, Lotus, Sun and

MIT. The PKCS have been cited by the OSI Implementers'Workshop (OIW) as a method for implementation of OSI

standards.

PKCS includes both algorithm-specific and

algorithm-independent implementation standards. Many

algorithms are supported, including RSA and Diffie-Hellman

key exchange, however, only the latter two are specifically

detailed. PKCS also defines an algorithm-independent syntax

for digital signatures, digital envelopes, and extended

digital certificates; this enables someone implementing any

cryptographic algorithm whatsoever to conform to a standard

syntax, and thus achieve interoperability.

E-mail: [email protected].

(1999-02-16)