PKC stands for Public Key Cryptography, which is a cryptographic system that uses pairs of public and private keys to securely exchange sensitive information over unsecured networks. It is based on the principles of asymmetric encryption, where the public key is used to encrypt the data, and the corresponding private key is used to decrypt it. PKC serves the purpose of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of communications.
In PKC, the public key is widely distributed and accessible to anyone, while the private key is kept secret by its owner. This allows anyone to encrypt data using the recipient's public key, but only the recipient can decrypt it using their private key. PKC is often used for secure communication in various applications, including email encryption, secure web browsing, digital signatures, and secure online transactions.
PKC relies on complex mathematical algorithms that are computationally difficult to reverse engineer or break. Some commonly used PKC algorithms include RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), Diffie-Hellman, and elliptic curve cryptography.
One of the main advantages of PKC is that it eliminates the need for secure key exchange before communication can occur. The widespread availability of public keys allows for convenient and secure communication between any two entities without the need for prior communication or trust establishment.
Overall, PKC is a crucial component of modern cryptographic systems, providing secure and efficient communication by utilizing the power of public and private key pairs.
