diff --git a/ndn-cpp/security/security-exception.hpp b/ndn-cpp/security/security-exception.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a3d20c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ndn-cpp/security/security-exception.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Regents of the University of California.
+ * @author: Yingdi Yu <yingdi@cs.ucla.edu>
+ * @author: Jeff Thompson <jefft0@remap.ucla.edu>
+ * See COPYING for copyright and distribution information.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NDN_SECURITY_EXCEPTION_HPP
+#define	NDN_SECURITY_EXCEPTION_HPP
+
+#include <exception>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace ndn {
+
+class SecurityException : public std::exception {
+public:
+  SecurityException(const std::string& errorMessage) throw();
+    
+  virtual ~SecurityException() throw();
+    
+  inline std::string Msg() { return errorMessage_; }
+    
+private:
+  const std::string errorMessage_;
+};
+
+class UnrecognizedKeyFormatException : public SecurityException {
+public:
+  UnrecognizedKeyFormatException(const std::string& errorMessage)
+  : SecurityException(errorMessage)
+  {
+  }
+};
+
+class UnrecognizedDigestAlgorithmException : public SecurityException {
+public:
+  UnrecognizedDigestAlgorithmException(const std::string& errorMessage)
+  : SecurityException(errorMessage)
+  {
+  }
+};
+
+}
+
+#endif