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PKI Model, Public v. Private Keys Why can't you decrypt a message with a public key?

#1 Albert Frankenstein

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Posted 30 October 2008 - 07:28 AM

Hello,

I have a question for a security junkie.

In a typical PKI model, a sender of a message may encrypt the message using a public key, and the recipient can decrypt the message using his private key.

My question is: Can a person decrypt the message using the public key? Apparently the answer is no, but I don't understand why this is. It seems to me that if you have the means to encrypt something, than you should be able to decrypt it with the same info.

Thanks!

ALBERT FRANKENSTEIN
I'M SO SMART IT'S SCARY!

Currently home chillin' with the fam and my two dogs!