RFC 3161 Trusted Timestamps Explain Why Hash Chains Alone Cannot Prove When Data Was Created

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Hash chains can verify that records were not altered after being written, but they cannot prove when those records were created or prevent a server operator with signing keys from regenerating the entire chain. RFC 3161 addresses this gap by defining a protocol for a Time Stamp Authority (TSA), a trusted third party that cryptographically binds a data hash to a specific point in time. The process involves sending only the hash — not the actual data — to the TSA, which returns a signed Time Stamp Token that cannot be forged or backdated. Even if an attacker gains control of a server and its signing keys, they cannot produce a valid TSA token dated before their takeover without also compromising the TSA itself. Developers can implement timestamping either per record for high-value events or periodically at chain-head intervals to balance cost and auditability.

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