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URL: http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1040.txt
This
RFC defines message encipherment and authentication procedures, as the initial
phase of an effort to provide privacy enhancement services for electronic mail
transfer in the Internet. Detailed key management mechanisms to support these
procedures will be defined in a subsequent RFC. As a goal of this initial
phase, it is intended that the procedures defined here be compatible with a
wide range of key management approaches, including both conventional
(symmetric) and public-key (asymmetric) approaches for encryption of data
encrypting keys. Use of conventional cryptography for message text encryption
and/or integrity check computation is anticipated.
Privacy
enhancement services (confidentiality, authentication, and message integrity
assurance) are offered through the use of end-to-end cryptography between
originator and recipient User Agent processes, with no special processing
requirements imposed on the Message Transfer System at endpoints or at
intermediate relay sites. This approach allows privacy enhancement facilities
to be incorporated on a site-by-site or user-by-user basis without impact on
other Internet entities. Interoperability among heterogeneous components and
mail transport facilities is supported.
Keywords:
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