key agreement protocols

Key agreement protocols are methods used by two parties to securely establish a shared secret key, which is crucial for encrypted communication. Imagine two people wanting to exchange secret messages without anyone else knowing the key. They use a mathematical process to agree on a key, even if their initial communication is intercepted. The protocol ensures that only they can derive the same key, preventing eavesdroppers from being able to decipher their messages. Common examples include Diffie-Hellman and Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman, which rely on complex mathematical problems to provide security during the key exchange process.