This is known as one way encryption. A signed file, is a clear text message with a hash-total encrypted at the bottom of the file. Public-key encryption is used to create this message that anyone can decrypt but only the sender could have created. Signing the file, is the way the server provides proof of sender . Server authentication is accomplished when the client uses the servers public-key from the certificate to verify the signed file and matches the certificate information with what the server sends.
Symmetric encryption uses one key to both encrypt and decrypt a message.
This type of encryption is faster than public-key but is not as secure. Return to the top of this page. Server decrypts session key using private-key Client and server start communicating using session key Return to the top of this page. Hal Finney, a member of our Internet community, posted two challenges to break a single SSL transmission. The processing power used was approx.