DistOS-2011W Reputation

Members

• Waheed Ahmed
• Trevor Gelowsky
• Michael Du Plessis
• Nicolas Lessard

The problem

Emerge vs. Impose reputation on the system

What currently exists?

• Digital signatures
  • Certificates signed by trusted organizations

Public-key infrastructure

Introduction

In order to build secure chain of trust Public-Key Infrastructure is used for internet based communication. It consists of various things like security policy , Certificate authority , registration authority , certificate distribution system PKI enabled applications.

Uses and Need

With development of modern e-commerce based businesses which has minimal customer face-to-face interactions is demanding more security and integrity. The online web based stores where huge amount of transactions take place needs to ensure customers that there information is confidential and processed through a secure channel. This is where implementation of PKI steps in to provide mechanisms to ensure trusted relationships are established and maintained. The specific security functions in which a PKI can provide foundation are confidentiality, integrity, non-repudiation,and authentication.

References

• Joel Weise : "Public Key Infrastructure Overview " http://www.sun.com/blueprints/0801/publickey.pdf Accessed 2nd March 2011

• Security Glossary : http://www.cafesoft.com/support/security-glossary.html Accessed on 2nd March 2011