Overview#

FIPS 186 is a Federal Information Processing Standard titled Specifications for the Digital Signature Standard (DSS)

defines methods for digital signature generation that can be used for the protection of binary data (commonly called a message), and for the verification and validation of those digital signatures. Three techniques are approved.

• The Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) is specified in FIPS 186. The specification includes criteria for the generation of domain parameters, for the generation of Public Key and Private Key pairs, and for the generation and verification of Digital Signatures.
• The RSA Digital Signature Algorithm is specified in American National Standard (ANS) X9.31 and Public Key Cryptography Standard (PKCS) #1. FIPS 186-4 approves the use of implementations of either or both of these standards and specifies additional requirements.
• The Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) is specified in ANS X9.62. FIPS 186-4 approves the use of ECDSA and specifies additional requirements. Recommended elliptic curves for Federal Government use are provided herein

More Information#

There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:

• Digital Signature Algorithm
• Digital Signature Standard

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• [#1] - Specifications for the Digital Signature Standard (DSS) - based on information obtained 2017-08-02-