Untraceable electronic mail, return addresses, and digital pseudonyms

1981/02/01 by David L. Chaum, David Chaum · 4,309 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Computer Science · Engineering · #Citation #Computer science #Computer security #Cryptography and Data Security #DNA and Biological Computing #Internet privacy #Telecommunications #World Wide Web #graph theory and CDMA systems

paper · pdf · doi:10.1145/358549.358563

published in Communications of the ACM 24(2), 84-90 (Association for Computing Machinery)

openalex publication_date 1981/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

A technique based on public key cryptography is presented that allows an electronic mail system to hide who a participant communicates with as well as the content of the communication--in spite of an unsecured underlying telecommunication system. The technique does not require a universally trusted authority. One correspondent can remain anonymous to a second, while allowing the second to respond via an untraceble return address.

Citations

• A method for obtaining digital signatures and public-key cryptosystems

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