0

Describe the sequence of steps a sender of a message takes when sending the message with a digital signature. What steps does the receiver of such a message take to recover the message?

Describe the sequence of steps a sender of a message takes when sending the message with a digital signature. What steps does the receiver of such a message take to recover the message?
networkingsecuritycomputer sciencecomputer networkingcryptographycomputer security
Asked by Zach on June 26, 2025

1 Answers

0
The process of sending and receiving a message with a digital signature involves specific steps for both the sender and the receiver to ensure authenticity and integrity.

Sender's Steps to Create and Send a Digitally Signed Message:
  1. Message Digest Generation: The sender computes a fixed-size message digest (or hash) of the original message using a cryptographic hash function, such as SHA-256. This digest acts as a unique fingerprint for the message.
  2. Signature Creation: The sender encrypts this message digest using their own private key. The result of this encryption is the digital signature. This step is a core concept in public-key cryptography.
  3. Message Assembly: The digital signature is then attached to the original message.
  4. Transmission: The sender transmits the combined original message and its digital signature to the receiver.

Receiver's Steps to Verify and Recover the Message:
  1. Separation of Components: Upon receiving the transmission, the receiver separates the original message from the attached digital signature.
  2. Signature Decryption: The receiver uses the sender's public key to decrypt the digital signature. This decryption yields the original message digest that the sender computed. This inverse operation is why public and private keys are paired.
  3. Local Message Digest Generation: Independently, the receiver computes a new message digest of the received original message using the same hash function that the sender used.
  4. Comparison and Verification: The receiver compares the message digest obtained from decrypting the signature (Step 2) with the locally computed message digest (Step 3).
  5. Result:
    • If the two message digests match, it confirms that the message has not been altered in transit (integrity) and that it genuinely originated from the claimed sender (authenticity), as only the sender's private key could have produced a signature verifiable by their public key.
    • If the digests do not match, the message's integrity or authenticity is compromised.
Zephyr - June 26, 2025
Add Comment

Your Answer

Related Questions

Popular Topics

securitynetworkingcomputer sciencecomputer securitycomputer networking