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Does RSA use static or ephemeral keys?

User Pwnna
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Final answer:

RSA uses static keys, which are long-term keys used over multiple sessions, as opposed to ephemeral keys that are used once and discarded. Standard RSA implementations utilize static public/private key pairs for encryption and digital signatures.

Step-by-step explanation:

RSA, which stands for Rivest-Shamir-Adleman, is a widely-used public key cryptographic algorithm that plays a crucial role in secure data transmission. Regarding your question, RSA typically uses static keys. Static keys are long-term keys that remain constant over multiple sessions. Essentially, in the context of RSA, this means that a given public/private key pair - once generated - will be used for an extended period and through multiple encryption and decryption processes.

In contrast, ephemeral keys are used only once and then discarded, providing an additional layer of security through what is known as forward secrecy; if a session key is compromised, past communications remain secure because ephemeral keys from past sessions cannot be reconstructed.

Therefore, in the standard implementation of RSA, static keys are the norm, providing a secure method for encrypting data and establishing digital signatures.

User Ferrmolina
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