Message authentication

Message authentication is a process that verifies a message truly comes from the sender and hasn’t been altered. It ensures the integrity and authenticity of data through techniques like digital signatures or hash functions combined with secret keys. When you receive a message, authentication methods help confirm it’s genuine and unmodified, providing confidence in its origin and content. This process is essential for secure communication, preventing impersonation, tampering, or fraud, especially in sensitive or confidential exchanges.