Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Privacy: A Technical Look at Privacy

Building trust in modern business and in social interactions is a critical need as our networks continue to grow and as we engage deeply with unknown people and companies from various parts of the planet. Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology is a powerful enabler of this trust. It allows a person to demonstrate they know something, have something, or can do something without revealing the actual information or process. We describe the fundamental concepts of cryptography and ZK, their use and limitations, and discuss how ZK technology can be used from a personal as well as a business perspective.