Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What are the two types of non-repudiation, and why does the distinction matter?
Non-repudiation of origin prevents a sender from denying they sent a message; non-repudiation of receipt prevents a receiver from denying they received it.
The BSI distinguishes:
| Type | German | Protection against... |
|---|---|---|
| Non-repudiation of origin | Nichtabstreitbarkeit der Herkunft | Sender denying they sent a specific message |
| Non-repudiation of receipt | Nichtabstreitbarkeit des Erhalts | Receiver denying they received a specific message |
Why this matters in practice:
- Origin: When Alice signs a contract digitally, she cannot later claim she didn't sign it (the digital signature proves she did)
- Receipt: When Bob's system acknowledges receiving the signed contract, he cannot later claim he never received it
How it's achieved:
- Origin → Digital signatures (the sender signs with their private key)
- Receipt → Signed acknowledgments or delivery receipts (the receiver signs a confirmation)
In this framework, non-repudiation (Verbindlichkeit) is integrated into data authenticity — it's not treated as a separate security goal but as a component of the broader authenticity concept. This is one area where different textbooks organize things differently.