Abstract: A method at a terminal in a multiple-node digital communications network, comprising any one or more of: generating at least one symmetric first key(s), across all participating nodes in the multiple-node digital communications network and securely distributing the at least one first key(s) in encrypted form to multiple participating nodes of the multiple-node digital communications network, using at least one asymmetrically established second key(s), the participating nodes including at least one message-transmitting node(s) and at least one message-receiving node(s); generating at least one symmetric third key(s) for one or more communication session that includes one or more communications from the at least one message-transmitting node(s) to the message-receiving node(s); encrypting at least one payload message using the at least one third key(s) at the at least one message-transmitting node(s), sending the encrypted at least one payload message, and receiving the encrypted at least one payload message at