nino wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have some problems finding the following in the documentation:
>
> -- what is the DSA algorithm, and where is it explained ? Is it a short
> for LUCDSA (lucas functions instead of exp as in RSA)?
>
The Digital Signature Algorithm, also called the Digital Signature
Standard (DSS) is a public key algorithm that can be used only for
signing. Unlike RSA it doesn't have patent problems (I believe it does
have a patent but anyone can use it).
It is described in the FIPS186 or FIPS186a document, if you do a search
for that you should find it.
It is a bit more awkward to use than RSA. Like many things, if it wasn't
for the RSA patent hardly anyone would use it.
> -- what is the format NET (ie. -inform NET or -outform NET). I can see
> that it makes the transition between ascii and binary (or so it seems),
> but what exactly is it. A standard in ssl, an RFC standard or ...???
>
I haven't seen this documented anywhere. It a private key format used by
early Netscape servers and in the .key files use by IIS. Its uses RC4
for encryption with no salt. It is horribly insecure, avoid it!
Steve.
--
Dr Stephen N. Henson. http://www.drh-consultancy.demon.co.uk/
Personal Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Senior crypto engineer, Celo Communications: http://www.celocom.com/
Core developer of the OpenSSL project: http://www.openssl.org/
Business Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] PGP key: via homepage.
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