SRTCP

SRTCP stands for Secure Real-time Transport Protocol. It is a security extension for the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP). RTP is a widely used protocol for delivering audio and video over IP networks. SRTCP provides confidentiality, message authentication, and integrity for RTP traffic. It achieves this by employing cryptographic techniques.

The primary goal of SRTCP is to protect the real-time communication session from various threats. Confidentiality ensures that the content of the transmitted data cannot be understood by unauthorized parties. Message authentication verifies that the data originates from the claimed sender. Integrity guarantees that the data has not been tampered with during transit.

SRTCP works by encrypting the payload of RTP packets and adding a cryptographic authentication code. The specific encryption and authentication algorithms used are configurable and can be negotiated between the communicating parties. This negotiation typically happens through a separate key management protocol, such as the Session Description Protocol (SDP) or the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP).

By securing RTP, SRTCP is crucial for applications that require privacy and security, such as voice over IP (VoIP) calls, video conferencing, and other real-time multimedia communications. It is a fundamental component in establishing secure and trusted real-time communication channels.