Public-Key Cryptography

Published

April 1, 1991

Author(s)

James R. Nechvatal

Abstract

This publication presents a state-of-the-art survey of public-key cryptography, circa 1988-1990, and covers the following topics: 1) the theory of public-key cryptography; 2) comparisons to conventional (secret-key) cryptography; 3) a largely self-contained summary of relevant mathematics; 4) a survey of major existing public-key systems; 5) an exploration of digital signatures and has functions; 6) a survey of public-key implementations in networks; 7) an introduction to zero-knowledge protocols and probabilistic encryption; and 8) an exploration of security issues and key sizes.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 800-2

Report Number

800-2

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

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DOI Link

Keywords

public-key cryptography

Citation

Nechvatal, J. (1991), Public-Key Cryptography, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-2 (Accessed October 13, 2025)