1.3.2.1 Peer Names

The identifier of a group, as well as the identifier of individual members of a group, is based on a public/private key pair. Each group and group member is identified using a string called a Peer Name, which is derived from the public key of that group or group member. Because the Peer Name is derived from a public key, ownership of the Peer Name can be proven by cryptographic challenge. If a challenge is encrypted with the public key from which the Peer Name was derived, only the holder of the private key can give a valid response.