Code and Cipher, published quarterly by Certicom Corp., is an educational newsletter that covers the security and cryptography industry. In each issue we will examine security issues and cryptography trends in an objective manner. We welcome your thoughts, opinions and comments on anything that affects the industry. Please send your feedback on this issue and what you’d like to see in upcoming ones to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ECC and Digital Postage Marks - Part 1 The advent of the digital postage mark (DPM) has transformed the processes for payment and revenue collection in the postal service. However, since the size of the digital signature, which is used to sign the DPM, directly affects the size of the overall DPM, it is important to use the smallest digital signature possible. This article examines the Elliptic Curve Pintsov Vanstone Signature (ECPVS) scheme , which offers a highly secure signature that is six times smaller than an RSA-based signature.

	ECC and Electronic Check Presentment - Part 1 With the signing of the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, the process of clearing a check through a financial institution now has the possibility to be much faster. Secure presentment presents a major challenge, given that thousands of cheques per minute are scanned and must be signed to ensure that the information on the cheque cannot be denied later. By using ECC-based signatures, scanned, signed images can remain secure well into the future.

	Scott Vanstone on the future of Public-Key Cryptography In this column, Scott looks at the potential effects of the decision by the National Security Agency to license ECC and MQV.

Crypto News Book Review of "Guide to Elliptic Curve Cryptography"