_NSAKEY kwaba variable igama zatholakala e Windows NT 4 SP5 ngo-1999 ngu-Andrew D. Fernandes ka Cryptonym Corporation.Ukuhluka bekuqukethe ukhiye womphakathi ongu-1024-bit; okhiye abanjalo basetshenziswa ekubetheni okhiye womphakathi kokubethela nokuqinisekisa.Ngenxa yaleli gama, noma kunjalo, kwakucatshangwa ukuthi ukhiye uzovumela i-United States National Security Agency (NSA) ukuthi ichithe noma yikuphi ukuphepha komsebenzisi weWindows.IMicrosoft yakuphika ukuqagela yathi igama lokhiye livela ekutheni i-NSA yayiyigunya lokubuyekeza ubuchwepheshe kwezilawuli zokuthumela i-cryptography zase-US . IMicrosoft idinga wonke amasudi we-cryptography asebenzisana ne- Microsoft Windows ukuze abe nesiginesha yedijithali.Njengoba kungamakhompiyutha avunyelwe yiMicrosoft kuphela angathunyelwa ngeWindows, kungenzeka ukugcina amakhophi wokuthumela ngaphandle kwalolu hlelo lokusebenza ngokuhambisana neMithetho Yokulawulwa Kwempahla Ephumayo (EAR), ephoqelelwa yi- Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Ngesikhathi sethulwa engqungqutheleni yeComputer, Freedom and Privacy 2000 (CFP2000), uDuncan Campbell, umcwaningi omkhulu e- Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), ubalule impikiswano ye-_NSAKEY njengesibonelo sendaba evelele ehlobene nokuphepha nokuqashwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uDkt Nicko van Someren wathola ukhiye wesithathu ku-Windows 2000, ayengabaza ukuthi unenhloso esemthethweni, futhi wamemezela ukuthi "Kubukeka kunenhlanzi".