// THREAT DETECTION AND DATA PRIVACY TERM
RSA Encryption
RSA is a widely used method for sending information securely over the internet. It uses a pair of keys, a public key for encrypting data and a private key for decrypting it, making it very difficult for unauthorized parties to read.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) is an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm based on the computational difficulty of factoring large integers. It utilizes a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption, enabling secure data transmission, key exchange, and the creation of digital signatures within a public-key infrastructure (PKI).
BACKGROUND
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information in a way that, ideally, only authorized parties can decode. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Despite its goal, encryption does not itself prevent interference but denies the intelligible content to a would-be interceptor.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- asymmetric cryptography
- public-key encryption
- Rivest-Shamir-Adleman
- RSA algorithm
- PKCS
- public-key cryptography
USAGE NOTE
While foundational for protocols like TLS/SSL, RSA is often used to securely exchange a smaller, symmetric key which then encrypts the bulk of the session data due to RSA's relative slowness.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to RSA Encryption.
Named after the Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) algorithm, this company was founded by the co-inventors of the public-key cryptosystem. It provides a wide range of cybersecurity solutions, including identity and access management products that are fundamentally based on asymmetric cryptography.
A global leader in digital security, Thales provides Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and other cryptographic solutions that securely generate, store, and manage RSA keys. Their products are critical for securing PKI, database encryption, and digital signing applications.
Entrust is a major provider of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) solutions, digital certificates, and identity management services. PKI systems heavily rely on RSA for creating digital signatures and enabling secure key exchange, forming the backbone of their offerings.
As a leading global Certificate Authority (CA), DigiCert issues SSL/TLS certificates that secure websites and online communications. The process of certificate creation, validation, and the SSL/TLS handshake protocol itself are core applications of RSA encryption.
NIST is a U.S. government agency that develops and publishes cryptographic standards. Its publications, like FIPS 186 (Digital Signature Standard), specify approved algorithms, including RSA, and define secure parameters and implementation guidelines for their use in federal information systems.
A major semiconductor manufacturer that develops secure microcontrollers and Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs). These hardware components often include dedicated cryptographic co-processors that perform RSA operations securely and efficiently, protecting keys from software-based attacks.
This organization maintains the OpenSSL project, one of the world's most widely used open-source cryptographic software libraries. It provides a robust, full-featured implementation of the RSA algorithm that is integrated into countless servers, operating systems, and applications.
A registered Australian charity that develops and maintains a popular open-source cryptographic library for Java and C#. The Bouncy Castle Crypto APIs provide a comprehensive suite of cryptographic functions, including a widely respected implementation of RSA.