Glossary of Data Communications Terms

Courtesy Enterprise-Wide Computing, Inc.

Term: message authentication code (MAC)
Definition: a method by which cryptographic check digits are appended to the message. They pertain to the transaction type, transaction account number, destination, and point of origin in computer security. Specifically, by using MAC, messages without the additional check digits are rejected by the computer system, and valid transactions cannot be modified without detection.

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Last Modified:
Wednesday, April 22, 1998