No, a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is not a private key. It's a request to obtain a digital certificate.
Here's a breakdown:
Understanding CSRs and Private Keys
What is a CSR?
A CSR is essentially a message you send to a Certificate Authority (CA) to request a digital certificate. This request contains information about your organization or website (like domain name, organization name, location etc.), your public key, and a digital signature which is created using your private key. The CSR is a digital document that you submit to the CA for verification.
What is a Private Key?
A private key is a secret code used in cryptography for decryption and digital signatures. It's an important component of public key infrastructure (PKI) security and should be kept confidential.
Key Differences:
| Feature | CSR (Certificate Signing Request) | Private Key |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Request for a digital certificate. | Decrypting data and creating digital signatures. |
| Contents | Contains public key and information about the entity requesting the certificate, digitally signed with a private key. | A secret key, used for decryption, signing, and other cryptographic operations. |
| Transmission | Transmitted to the CA over the internet. | Never transmitted over the internet; must be kept secure and private. |
| Public/Private | Public document used for requesting a digital certificate. | Private document; essential to secure your digital identity. |
Why CSR is not a private key?
- CSR is created using the private key, but does not contain it. As the reference explains, the CSR is "created and digitally signed by a CA, without having to send the private key over the internet."
- The CSR is used to generate a digital certificate from a CA.
- The Private key remains with the certificate requester. You need the private key to decrypt information encrypted with its corresponding public key and to create digital signatures.
Practical Insight:
The important thing to remember is that your private key should never be shared with anyone, and a CSR is designed to enable certificate issuance without exposing this critical piece of security information.
