How can public-key cryptography be leveraged to validate zero-knowledge proofs?

Posted on March 25, 2021 By Author
public-key cryptography

Introduction: the importance of data security and protection in this day and age.

Given that a bulk of communication today is conducted within the webspace, an essential requirement for anyone engaged in online exchanges becomes data protection. There is always a possibility that one’s private data can be acquired by unethical means and then used and manipulated to benefit fraudsters.

According to McKinsey,75 percent of experts across various industries view cyber risk to be a significant concern.

There is much concern about how data is exchanged and apprehension about third parties’ unquestioned acceptance to entrust them with personal information. Fortunately, now there is the technological possibility of systems that deal effectively with these worries by employing encryptions that strictly keep the exchanged data between the parties engaged in the process.

The necessity of leveraging public-key cryptography arises because of sensitive and private information on the internet and the urgent need to protect them from falling into the wrong hands.

The importance of zero-knowledge protocols.

Public-key encryption uses asymmetric keys to encrypt and decrypt messages to ensure cybersecurity. Asymmetrical encryption is considered better because it prevents a user’s private-key from being compromised and yet doesn’t hinder the receiver from successfully decrypting the message with the public-key they already have. This process of the zero-knowledge protocol transfers data and verifies reception and possession without putting the owners in danger as a target of unscrupulous external parties out there on the Internet. The process mentioned makes sure of the reception of particular knowledge without revealing the exact nature. Online communication is always in need of such validation of proofs.

Why is public-key cryptography used to validate proof?

There are several reasons to be mentioned as to why encryptions of this kind using similar technologies are essential:
1. A digitized database: Filing and documentation are universal requirements of all organisations, irrespective of nature, goal, or location. Traditional methods of creating a database can fall prey to human errors or, more dangerously, tampering people with the wrong intentions. The benefit of a database would be the fact that it organises and keeps necessary documentation without worrying about the compromise of accuracy, physical space-related issues, or even unlawful acquisition. 2. Minimum face to face interaction: Especially concerning current global problems and general currents of professional activity, interactive practices in person are becoming less and less customary. Using public-key encryption and zero-knowledge protocols makes it possible for data authentication and user verification work without actual human presence, thus creating a more vital case for safe online interaction. 3. Equal relationship between a server and the client: The unique feature of public-key encryption is that it demands authentication on both sides of the transaction. The client can leverage the server’s key for encryption, generating a secret key that can only be decrypted with the actual private-key. Again, the receiver can decrypt data with the help of the private-key only available to them. 4. Protection of sensitive documents, even in the absence of creators: Of course, the most important benefit and the primary purpose of public-key cryptography is to protect sensitive documents. When sending contractual papers, financial and legal documents, transaction details, one’s certificates, and even credit card applications, it is possible that the information generated by users can fall prey to fraudulent activity. With encryption that makes easy and straightforward validation attainable, it is possible to imagine a safe and secure exchange process. These technologies also work to protect very confidential and potentially high-value documents like wills and testaments. It ensures the safety and integrity of such papers even if the original creator is not present corporeally. 5. Easy to learn and use: One of the general requirements from software presently is that it be user-friendly. From the needs of different enterprises to regular communicators on the internet, it seems much better to control software one uses, into their own hands. Beyond the issues of privacy, third-party involvement also often renders the user dissatisfied and unsure. The verification process used by public-key cryptography is simple enough to be handled by non-expert users. People can quickly learn to use it, and it becomes an effortless part of daily activities. 6.Ideal for organisations of all sizes: The fact that such software is cost-efficient makes it more inviting for use. As mentioned before, data security and safe exchanges concern all users irrespective of their data’s scale and nature. Smaller organisations run into the same risks and find themselves unable to employ third parties or get stuck with traditional data protection methods that don’t guarantee a hundred percent efficiency. Therefore, such technology’s development is a welcome change in such smaller or newer organizations or individual communicators in cyberspace. 7. No third party involvement: Since most people are reluctant to involve third parties in their equation of exchange, public-key encryption can be used to create a reference point for verification on the untampered, immutable blockchain. This removes the need for third-party verification. It is reliable because it uses a unique hash value on the blockchain, as mentioned earlier, and this cannot be altered.

Conclusion

To find reliable software to guide the exchange processes taking place online is an essential engagement of all organisations functional today. Having the guarantee that what is sent over a particular network remains within that and doesn’t get tampered with is the primary concern.

ProofEasy, a beneficial product from RightCliq Solutions, uses similar technology to help people have safe transactions over the internet. They are committed to eliminating counterfeits and prevent fraudulent practices. To this end, they employ VeriDoc Global, a patented QR verification solution that uses Blockchain technology for the same purpose of transparency and prevention of deception and fraud. They take the responsibility of arming users with the dual necessities of privacy and reliable data security.

They also make custom integration possible, which essentially means that the solutions offered will be fitting within the client’s particular firewall and network. What if there is a desire to store detailed documents on personal servers? There is the option to integrate their platform with one’s existing cloud infrastructure or to go for API integration to secure the said documents within one’s system. Hence, the way public-key cryptography is used to create zero-knowledge proof by ProofEasy is a simple drag and drop solution to the omnipresent problems of data security and integrity.