trade secrets: Public Key Encryption

HOW TO SEND A PIN CODE SECRETLY

Step 1:

Tell your correspondent to silently choose a 4-digit number and to write it down.

Tell them to call this A and to keep this private at all times, including from you.

A: Correspondent’s Private key = [not known to you]

YOU: Choose a 4-digit PIN number. Keep this private at all times. Call this B

B: Your Private key =

YOU: Choose another 4-digit number.

Call this X.

Tell X to your correspondent and tell them to write it down.

X: Public key =

Step 2: YOU

YOU: Multiply your Private number B by the Public number X. This will be a very long number!

Call this BX

BX:

YOU: Underline the last 4 digits of BX

Call this Y

Y:

YOU: Give Y to your correspondent and tell them to call it Y

Step 3: INSTRUCTING YOUR CORRESPONDENT

Tell your correspondent to multiply A by X. This will be a very long number!

Tell them to call this AX

AX: [not known to you]

Tell them to underline the last 4 digits of AX

Tell them to call this C

Ask for your correspondent’s number C and write it here

C:

Step 4: YOU

Multiply C by your private number B.

Call this BC

BC:

Underline the last 4 digits of BC.

Call this D. NB this must never be transmitted

D:

Step 5: INSTRUCTING YOUR CORRESPONDENT

Tell your correspondent to multiply Y by their private number A.

Tell them to call this Z

AY = Z: [not known to you]

Tell your correspondent to underline the last 4 digits of Z.

Tell them to call this E. Tell them this must never be transmitted

E: [not known to you]

Step 6: YOU

Multiple D by the PIN you want to send secretly.

Call this G.

D x _ _ _ _ = G:

 

Step 7: INSTRUCTING YOUR CORRESPONDENT

YOU: Give G to your correspondent

Tell your correspondent to divide G by E.

Tell them to call this H (H = G/E). This is the PIN you transported secretly

H: _ _ _ _