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Forward-Secure Signatures

Definition

Forward-Secure Signatures are cryptographic signatures designed so that a compromise of the current secret key does not invalidate or allow forgery of previously generated signatures. This security property is achieved by regularly updating the signing key, with each new key derived from the previous one in a way that makes it computationally infeasible to recover past keys. Upon key update, the old key material is securely erased. This mechanism provides enhanced long-term security, limiting the impact of a key compromise to only future signing operations and preserving the integrity of historical records in decentralized systems.