<
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: pkcs@rsa.com.
(1999-02-16)