Abstract: A method of verifying a digital signature of a first party that was generated using an elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA) includes the steps of receiving a public key from the first party; receiving a digital signature from the first party, the digital signature being for an electronic message; identifying domain parameters of an elliptic curve used in elliptic curve cryptography, including identifying a generating point of the elliptic curve; transforming the identified generating point into a second generating point as a deterministic function of shared knowledge known to and between the first party and a second party; and verifying the received digital signature as a deterministic function of the received public key, the electronic message, and the identified domain parameters, in which the second generating point is substituted for the identified generating point.

Abstract: Facilitating communication using a digital signature includes: communicating software to a first party; receiving from the first party public keys of public-private key pairs generated using the software; and recording in a database the public keys in association with information pertaining to the software. The key pairs have the same private key. The software additionally provides digital signatures utilizing this private key. Each public key of these key pairs is generated, in part, based on data that is specified by the first party.

Abstract: Generating a digital signature utilizing a cryptograph key includes: receiving into a computer system input data from a user (UID); generating within the computer system a cryptographic key as a deterministic function of the UID; clearing from the computer system the UID; generating within the computer system a digital signature as a function of the generated cryptographic key; and clearing the generated cryptographic key from the computer system following generation of the digital signature. The digital signature further may be generated as a function of whether a digital signature has yet been generated using the generated cryptographic key following receipt of the UID. Neither the received UID nor the generated cryptographic key is exported from the computer system.

Abstract: A public key and digital signature is provided using a private key of a public-private key pair in an elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA) by: identifying domain parameters of an elliptic curve for use in elliptic curve cryptography, the domain parameters including an initial generating point; transforming the generating point into a new generating point as a deterministic function; generating the public key as a deterministic function of the private key and the domain parameters, in which the new generating point is substituted for the initial generating point; and generating the digital signature as a function of the private key and the domain parameters, in which the new generating point is substituted for the initial generating point.

Abstract: Facilitating communication using a digital signature includes: receiving user input data (UID); generating a first key as a deterministic function of the UID; clearing the UID; generating a second key as a deterministic function of the first key; clearing the first key following generation of the second key; and exporting the second key. Neither the UID nor the first key is exported. Thereafter, a digital signature is generated by again receiving the UID; regenerating the first key using the deterministic function and the UID; clearing the UID; generating a digital signature as a function of the regenerated first key; clearing the regenerated first key following generation of the digital signature; and exporting the generated digital signature.