Bilateral key exchange

Bilateral Key Exchange (BKE) was an encryption scheme utilized by The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT).

The scheme was retired on January 1, 2009 and has now been replaced by the Relationship Management Application (RMA). All key management is now based on the SWIFT PKI that was implemented in SWIFT phase 2.

A Bilateral Key allowed secure communication across the SWIFT Network. The text of a SWIFT:Message Types and the authentication key were used to generate a Message Authentication Code or MAC. The MAC ensured the origin of a message and the authenticity of the message contents. This was normally accomplished by the exchange of various SWIFT Messages used specifically for establishing a communicating key pair.

BKE keys were generated either manually inside the SWIFT software, or automatically with the use of an SCR or Secure Card Reader.

Since 1994, the keys used in the card reader and the authentication keys themselves were 1024bit RSA.

Key exchange

Key exchange (also known as "key establishment") is any method in cryptography by which cryptographic keys are exchanged between two parties, allowing use of a cryptographic algorithm.

If sender and receiver wish to exchange encrypted messages, each must be equipped to encrypt messages to be sent and decrypt messages received. The nature of the equipping they require depends on the encryption technique they might use. If they use a code, both will require a copy of the same codebook. If they use a cipher, they will need appropriate keys. If the cipher is a symmetric key cipher, both will need a copy of the same key. If an asymmetric key cipher with the public/private key property, both will need the other's public key.

The key exchange problem

The key exchange problem is how to exchange whatever keys or other information are needed so that no one else can obtain a copy. Historically, this required trusted couriers, diplomatic bags, or some other secure channel. With the advent of public key / private key cipher algorithms, the encrypting key (aka public key) could be made public, since (at least for high quality algorithms) no one without the decrypting key (aka, the private key) could decrypt the message.

Key Exchange

Key Exchange is a 1985 American romantic comedy film starring Brooke Adams. The film is based on a play by Kevin Wade.

Plot

A young woman wishes to get her boyfriend to commit to her, yet the most she can manage to do is get him to exchange apartment keys.

Cast

References

External links