What is signcryption?

Signcryption is a cryptographic method that combines the processes of signing and encrypting data in a single step. It provides both confidentiality, which protects the data from unauthorized access, and non-repudiation, which ensures that the sender cannot deny having sent the message. This dual capability enhances efficiency and security by allowing the message to be both encrypted and signed simultaneously, rather than requiring separate operations for each function.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of cryptography. Creating digital signatures involves a separate process where a message is signed to verify its authenticity but does not inherently provide confidentiality unless combined with encryption. Symmetric encryption refers to a method where the same key is used for both encryption and decryption, typically focusing on confidentiality alone, without the non-repudiation aspect. Key management techniques pertain to the organization and handling of cryptographic keys but do not address the simultaneous signing and encrypting of messages, which is the core of what signcryption achieves.