digital envelope


digital envelope

(cryptography)

http://rsa.com/rsalabs/faq/html/2-2-4.html.

digital envelope

(1) An encrypted message that uses both secret key and public key cryptography methods. A secret key is used to encrypt and decrypt the message, but the public key method is used to send the secret key to the other party. See RSA.

(2) A frame, or packet, of data that has been encrypted for transmission over a network.

(3) A term occasionally used to describe inserting data into a packet or frame for transmission over a network. The envelope metaphor implies a container. See encapsulation and container.