Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for providing links to remotely located information in a network of remotely connected computers. The system may or may not include a server providing an interface between shorthand codes and corresponding original files. If the server is included, a uniform resource locator (URL) is registered with a server. A shorthand link is associate with the registered URL. The associated shorthand link and URL are logged in a registry database. When a request is received for a shorthand link, the registry database is searched for an associated URL. If the shorthand link is found to be associated with an URL, the URL is fetched, otherwise an error message is returned. If the server is not included, all URLs located at a root page may be listed and associated with shorthand keys or links. Associated files and keys are indexed in an index file. The shorthand codes or keys are combined with the root page to form shorthand URLs.

Abstract: An improved cryptographic method utilizing exponentiation is provided which has the advantage of reducing the number of multiplications required to determine the legitimacy of a message or user. The basic method comprises the steps of selecting a key from a preapproved group of integer keys g; exponentiating the key by an integer value e, where e represents a digital signature, to generate a value g.sup.e ; transmitting the value g.sup.e to a remote facility by a communications network; receiving the value g.sup.e at the remote facility; and verifying the digital signature as originating from the legitimate user. The exponentiating step comprises the steps of initializing a plurality of memory locations with a plurality of values g.sup.xi ; computiThe United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-AC04-76DP00789 between the Department of Energy and AT&T Company.