ECDSA
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Cybersecurity
| Stands for | Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
ECDSA stands for Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm, a cybersecurity abbreviation.
A digital signature scheme built on elliptic-curve cryptography, used for TLS certificates, software updates and cryptocurrency transactions. Bitcoin and Ethereum sign transactions with ECDSA on the secp256k1 curve.
Example: The firmware update is signed with ECDSA, and devices reject any image whose signature fails.
Usage notes
Standardized around 1999 and 2000 in ANSI X9.62 and FIPS 186-2. Each signature needs a fresh random number, and reusing one leaks the private key, which is how hackers extracted Sony's PlayStation 3 signing key in 2010. Many systems now prefer EdDSA (Ed25519), which avoids that pitfall by design.
Related abbreviations
More cybersecurity abbreviations
- DoS – Denial of service
- DPI – Deep packet inspection
- DSA – Digital Signature Algorithm
- E2EE – End-to-end encryption
- EAP – Extensible Authentication Protocol
- ECC – Elliptic-curve cryptography
- EDR – Endpoint detection and response
- FIDO – Fast Identity Online
- GPG – GNU Privacy Guard
- GRC – Governance, risk and compliance
- HMAC – Hash-based message authentication code
- HSM – Hardware security module