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message authentication code (MAC)

Definition

message authentication code (MAC)

Part of the Authentication glossary:

A message authentication code (MAC) is a cryptographic checksum on data that uses a session key to detect both accidental and intentional modifications of the data.

Next Steps

Data integrity authentication schemes.
In this Ask the Expert Q&A, Joel Dubin, our ide...
(SearchSecurity.com)
Data integrity authentication scheme
(SearchSecurity.com)

Learn more about message authentication code:

Find out how an attacker cracks a symmetric key-based system.

What are the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms?

This was last updated in November 2010

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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Glossaries

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- This WhatIs.com glossary contains terms related to Internet applications, including definitions about Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery models and words and phrases about web sites, e-commerce ...

Dig Deeper

Data integrity authentication schemes.

In this Ask the Expert Q&A, Joel Dubin, our identity and access mangement expert examines various data integrity authentication schemes. (SearchSecurity.com)
Data integrity authentication scheme

(SearchSecurity.com)
How MAC and HMAC use hash function encryption for authentication

Hash function encryption is the key for MAC and HMAC message authentication. See how this differs from other message authentication tools from expert Michael Cobb. (SearchSecurity.com)

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