Schnorr signature
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In cryptography, a Schnorr signature is a digital signature produced by the Schnorr signature algorithm. Its security is based on the intractability of certain discrete logarithm problems. It is considered the simplest digital signature scheme to be provably secure in a random oracle model. It is efficient and generates short signatures. It is covered by U.S. Patent 4,995,082 , which expired in February 2008.
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[edit] Choosing parameters
- All users of the signature scheme agree on a group G with generator g of prime order q in which the discrete log problem is hard. Typically a Schnorr group is used.
- All users agree on a cryptographic hash function H.
[edit] Key generation
- Choose a private key x such that 0 < x < q.
- The public key is y where y = gx.
[edit] Signing
To sign a message M:
- Choose a random k such that 0 < k < q
- Let r = gk
- Let e = H(M | | r)
- Let
The signature is the pair (e,s). Note that and ; if a Schnorr group is used and q < 2160, this means that the signature can fit into 40 bytes.
[edit] Verifying
- Let rv = gsye
- Let ev = H(M | | rv)
If ev = e then the signature is verified.
Public elements: G,g,q,y,s,e,r. Private elements: k,x.
See also: Topics in cryptography
[edit] References
- C.P. Schnorr, Efficient identification and signatures for smart cards, in G. Brassard, ed. Advances in Cryptology -- Crypto '89, 239-252, Springer-Verlag, 1990. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, nr 435
- Claus-Peter Schnorr, Efficient Signature Generation by Smart Cards, J. Cryptology 4(3), pp161–174 (1991) (PS).
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