In cryptography, a key signature is the result of a third-party applying a cryptographic signature to a representation of a cryptographic key. This is usually done as a form of assurance or verification: If "Alice" has signed "Bob"'s key, it can serve as an assurance to another party, say "Eve", that the key actually belongs to Bob, and that Alice has personally checked and attested to this.
The representation of the key that is signed must necessarily be shorter than the key itself, because most public-key signature schemes can only encrypt or sign short lengths of data. Some derivative of the public key fingerprint may be used.
Famous quotes containing the words key and/or signature:
“There are two kinds of timidity—timidity of mind, and timidity of the nerves; physical timidity, and moral timidity. Each is independent of the other. The body may be frightened and quake while the mind remains calm and bold, and vice versë. This is the key to many eccentricities of conduct. When both kinds meet in the same man he will be good for nothing all his life.”
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