K

Kerberos
A single sign-on type system utilizing symmetric key encryption through a ticket-oriented mechanism for network security.

Key
Data used in cryptosystems in order to execute encryption, which comes in different forms like ssl encryption and also 128-bit encryption which provides internet security and online security.

Key Escrow: A deposit of the private key of a subscriber and other pertinent information pursuant to an escrow agreement or similar contract binding upon the subscriber, the terms of which require one or more agents to hold the subscriber's private key for the benefit of the subscriber, an employer, or other party, upon provisions set forth in the agreement. [adapted from ABADSG, "Commercial key escrow service"]

Key Exchange: The process of exchanging public keys in order to establish secure communications.

Key Generation: Material Random numbers, pseudo-random numbers, and cryptographic parameters used in generating cryptographic keys.

Key Length
Because many modern encryption algorithms are mathematically founded, the length of keys is a crucial determining factor in the strength of an algorithm and in the work factor involved in breaking a cryptographic system.

Key Management
The process of handling and controlling cryptographic keys and associated material during their life cycle in a cryptographic system. This includes ordering, generating, distributing, storing, loading, escrowing, archiving, auditing, and destroying the different types of material.

Key Pair
Two mathematically related keys having the properties that (1) one key can be used to encrypt a message that can only be decrypted using the other key, and (ii) even knowing one key, it is computationally infeasible to discover the other key. See also encryption, PKI, private key, and public key.

Key Space
The scope and extent of possible values of a cryptographic key, or the number of totally different transformations that are supported by a certain cryptographic algorithm.

Keyed Hash
A cryptographic hash or digest in which the mapping to a hash result is assorted by a second input parameter which is a cryptographic key. The secret key protects the hash result in order for it to be used as a checksum.