Apparatus, method, and computer program product for achieving interoperability between cryptographic key recovery enabled and unaware systems

摘要

An apparatus, method, and computer program product for achieving interoperability between cryptographic key recovery enabled and unaware systems. The method includes the steps of encrypting data using a cryptography key to generate ciphertext; generating a key recovery block containing key recovery information for the ciphertext; determining whether a receiver for the ciphertext is key recovery unaware; and sending the key recovery block to a key recovery client when it is determined that the receiver is key recovery unaware. In a preferred embodiment, the ciphertext is sent to the receiver only after receiving confirmation from the key recovery client of the receipt of the key recovery block. Also in a preferred embodiment, the key recovery block is sent as part of an Internet Message Control Protocol (ICMP) message.