The Digital Signature Algorithm

DSA is a NIST federal standard, used along with the Secure Hash Standard, to attach digital signatures to data. NIST published the first version of the DSA algorithm as part of the DSS (Digital Signature Standard, FIPS 186) in May 1994. DSA is based on the discrete logarithm problem, which is described in the next two sections.

Recall from Chapter 4 that an asymmetric algorithm is always based on some one-way function. The one-way function upon which DSA is based is known as the discrete logarithm problem. The discrete logarithm problem involves an area of abstract algebra known as group theory. A group is actually a sophisticated and somewhat generalized concept that transcends familiar elementary school arithmetic. ...

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