Untrusted Server

Definition ∞ An untrusted server is a computational host whose security posture and operational integrity cannot be reliably verified or guaranteed by a client or relying party. Interacting with an untrusted server carries inherent risks, including data interception, manipulation, or the execution of malicious code. In the context of blockchain and cryptographic protocols, transmitting sensitive information or offloading computation to such a server introduces significant security vulnerabilities. Users must assume that any data processed by it could be compromised.
Context ∞ The reliance on untrusted servers for various operations, such as cloud hosting or third-party APIs, presents ongoing security challenges for blockchain projects and decentralized applications. News often highlights security breaches that originate from compromises within third-party infrastructure. The industry is increasingly focused on developing cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs and secure multi-party computation to allow interaction with untrusted servers while preserving data privacy and integrity.