Managing data integrity and message authentication

To ensure the integrity of transmitted messages and stored data, CCA provides DES-based Message Authentication Code (MAC) functions and several hashing functions, including Modification Detection Code (MDC), SHA-1, RIPEMD-160 and MD5.

See Using digital signatures for an alternate method of message authentication using digital signatures.

The choice of verb depends on the security requirements of the environment in which you are operating. If you need to ensure the authenticity of the sender and also the integrity of the data, consider Message Authentication Code processing. If you need to ensure the integrity of transmitted data in an environment where it is not possible for the sender and the receiver to share a secret cryptographic key, consider hashing functions.