In the era of digital transactionsSmart Contract: A self-executing contract with the terms of ..., ensuring the security of sensitive information has become more important than ever. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): A framework that manages di... has emerged as a vital tool for securing digital transactions, providing a secure and reliable way to exchange information over the internet.
PKI is a system of hardwareFAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google): An acronym..., software, policies, and standards that is used to create, manage, distribute, use, store, and revoke digital certificatesAnonymous Browsing: Using the internet without disclosing yo... and manage public-key encryptionGDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): A regulation intr.... It uses a combination of public and private keys, digital certificates, and certificate authoritiesWhitelisting: A security practice where a list is created sp... to ensure the authenticity and integrityWorm: A type of malware that replicates itself to spread to ... of digital transactions.
At the core of PKI are digital certificates, which are issued by certificate authorities and contain the public key of an individual or organization, along with other information such as the owner’s name and the expiration date of the certificate. These certificates are used to authenticate the identity of the parties involved in a digital transaction and to encrypt data to ensure its confidentialityData Sovereignty: The idea that data is subject to the laws ....
One of the key benefits of PKI is its ability to provide non-repudiation, which means that the sender of a message cannot deny having sent it, and the recipient cannot deny having received it. This is achieved through the use of digital signatures, which are created using the sender’s private keyE2E Encryption (End-to-End Encryption): A system of communic... and can be verified using their public key, providing a way to prove the authenticity and integrity of a digital document.
PKI also helps to protect data from unauthorized access and tampering by using encryptionIncognito Mode: A privacy setting in web browsers that preve... to secure the communication between the parties involved in a digital transaction. This ensures that the information remains confidential and cannot be intercepted or altered by unauthorized parties.
In the context of the UPSC (Ubiquitous Public Service Computing) era, where digital transactions are becoming increasingly prevalent in all aspects of our lives, the importance of PKI cannot be overstated. Whether it’s online banking, e-commerceDigital Wallet (or e-Wallet): A virtual wallet where individ..., or government services, PKI plays a crucial role in ensuring the security and integrity of these transactions.
It is important for individuals and organizations to understand the fundamentals of PKI and how it can be used to secure their digital transactions. This includes the proper management of digital certificates, the secure storage of private keys, and the use of trusted certificate authorities to issue and validate digital certificates.
As the reliance on digital transactions continues to grow, so too does the need for robust security measuresData Retention: Policies that determine how long data should... to protect sensitive information. PKI provides a proven and reliable way to achieve this, making it an essential tool for securing digital transactions in the UPSC era. By understanding and implementing PKI effectively, individuals and organizations can ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of their digital transactions, offering peace of mind in an increasingly connected and digital world.