private-key cryptography

cryptography As opposed to public-key cryptography, a

cryptographic method in which the same key is used to encrypt

and decrypt the message. Private-key algorithms include the

obsolescent Data Encryption Standard (DES), triple-DES

(3DES), the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), also known

as Rijndael, Blowfish, Twofish RC2, RC4, RC5 and RC6.

A problem with private-key cryptography is that the emitter

and the recipient of the message must agree secretly on a

common key beforehands; but how can they do so?

Public-key cryptography gives an answer to this problem.

(2003-04-12)