Generating a digital signature utilizing a cryptograph key includes:
receiving into a computer system input data from a user (UID); generating
within the computer system a cryptographic key as a deterministic
function of the UID; clearing from the computer system the UID;
generating within the computer system a digital signature as a function
of the generated cryptographic key; and clearing the generated
cryptographic key from the computer system following generation of the
digital signature. The digital signature further may be generated as a
function of whether a digital signature has yet been generated using the
generated cryptographic key following receipt of the UID. Neither the
received UID nor the generated cryptographic key is exported from the
computer system.