These processes enable your applications to verify that a message you have received has not been altered. The message itself can be in clear or encrypted form. In addition, digital signatures also authenticate the message sender's identity. VISA card-verification values ensure the safe transmission of credit card information over a computer network.
Your choice of callable service depends on the security requirements of your environment. If the sender and receiver share a secret key, use MAC processing to ensure both the authenticity of the sender and the integrity of the data. If the sender and receiver do not share a secret key, use a digital signature to ensure both the authenticity of the sender and the integrity of the data. If the sender and the receiver do not share a secret cryptographic key and you need to ensure only the integrity of transmitted data, use a hashing process.