diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b527def4..2cdfbb14 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -795,6 +795,43 @@ else
     AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
 fi 
 
+AC_ARG_WITH([default-sign-algo],
+            [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-default-sign-algo=[rsa-sha1|rsa-sha256]],
+                            [Default signing algorithm (rsa-sha1)]
+                           )
+            ]
+)
+
+SIGNING_ALGO=rsa-sha1
+if test x"$with_default_sign_algo" != x; then
+    if test ! "$with_default_sign_algo" = "rsa-sha1" -a ! "$with_default_sign_algo" = "rsa-sha256"; then
+	AC_MSG_ERROR("Default signing algorithm must be either rsa-sha1 or rsa-sha256")
+    else
+	SIGNING_ALGO=$with_default_sign_algo
+    fi
+fi
+
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(DEFAULT_SIGNING_ALGO, "$SIGNING_ALGO", ["The default signing algorithm"])
+
+AC_ARG_WITH([min-hash-algo],
+            [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-min-hash-algo=[sha1|sha256|sha384|sha512]],
+                            [Minimal allowed hash algorithm (rsa-sha1)]
+                           )
+            ]
+)
+
+MIN_HASH_ALGO=sha1
+if test x"$with_min_hash_algo" != x; then
+    if test ! "$with_min_hash_algo" = "sha1" -a ! "$with_min_hash_algo" = "sha256" -a ! "$with_min_hash_algo" = "sha384" -a ! "$with_min_hash_algo" = "sha512"; then
+	AC_MSG_ERROR("Minimal allowed hash algorithm must be one of sha1, sha256, sha384 or sha512)
+    else
+	MIN_HASH_ALGO=$with_min_hash_algo
+    fi
+fi
+
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(MIN_HASH_ALGO, "$MIN_HASH_ALGO", ["The minimal hash algorithm"])
+
+
 dnl ==========================================================================
 dnl Pedantic compilation
 dnl ==========================================================================
@@ -939,4 +976,9 @@ Python binding:         ${enable_python}
 
 C API references:       ${enable_gtk_doc}
 Tests suite:            ${enable_tests}
+
+Crypto settings
+---------------
+Default signature:      ${SIGNING_ALGO}
+Minimal accepted hash:  ${MIN_HASH_ALGO}
 )
diff --git a/lasso/id-ff/server.c b/lasso/id-ff/server.c
index 08bbde83..2bf5b7a8 100644
--- a/lasso/id-ff/server.c
+++ b/lasso/id-ff/server.c
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ instance_init(LassoServer *server)
 	server->private_key = NULL;
 	server->private_key_password = NULL;
 	server->certificate = NULL;
-	server->signature_method = LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1;
+	server->signature_method = lasso_get_default_signature_method();
 
 	server->services = g_hash_table_new_full(g_str_hash, g_str_equal,
 			(GDestroyNotify)g_free,
diff --git a/lasso/id-ff/server.h b/lasso/id-ff/server.h
index 8b419279..5f9022e9 100644
--- a/lasso/id-ff/server.h
+++ b/lasso/id-ff/server.h
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ LASSO_EXPORT gchar *lasso_server_get_endpoint_url_by_id(const LassoServer *serve
 LASSO_EXPORT GList *lasso_server_get_filtered_provider_list(const LassoServer *server,
 	LassoProviderRole role, LassoMdProtocolType protocol_type, LassoHttpMethod http_method);
 
+LASSO_EXPORT LassoSignatureMethod lasso_get_default_signature_method();
+void lasso_set_default_signature_method(LassoSignatureMethod meth);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/lasso/lasso.c b/lasso/lasso.c
index 08748599..67340317 100644
--- a/lasso/lasso.c
+++ b/lasso/lasso.c
@@ -149,6 +149,44 @@ lasso_xmlsec_errors_callback(const char *file G_GNUC_UNUSED, int line G_GNUC_UNU
 	g_log("libxmlsec", G_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "libxmlsec: %s:%d:%s:%s:%s:%s:%s", file, line, func, errorObject, errorSubject, xmlSecErrorsGetMsg(reason), msg);
 }
 
+static int
+set_default_signature_method()
+{
+	int rv = LASSO_ERROR_UNDEFINED;
+
+	if (lasso_strisequal(DEFAULT_SIGNING_ALGO, "rsa-sha256")) {
+		lasso_set_default_signature_method(LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA256);
+		rv = 0;
+	} else if (lasso_strisequal(DEFAULT_SIGNING_ALGO, "rsa-sha1")) {
+		lasso_set_default_signature_method(LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1);
+		rv = 0;
+	}
+
+	return rv;
+}
+
+static int
+set_min_allowed_hash_algo()
+{
+	int rv = LASSO_ERROR_UNDEFINED;
+
+	if (lasso_strisequal(MIN_HASH_ALGO, "sha1")) {
+		lasso_set_min_signature_method(LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1);
+		rv = 0;
+	} else if (lasso_strisequal(MIN_HASH_ALGO, "sha256")) {
+		lasso_set_min_signature_method(LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA256);
+		rv = 0;
+	} else if (lasso_strisequal(MIN_HASH_ALGO, "sha384")) {
+		lasso_set_min_signature_method(LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA384);
+		rv = 0;
+	} else if (lasso_strisequal(MIN_HASH_ALGO, "sha512")) {
+		lasso_set_min_signature_method(LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA512);
+		rv = 0;
+	}
+
+	return rv;
+}
+
 /**
  * lasso_init:
  *
@@ -164,6 +202,19 @@ int lasso_init()
 	g_type_init();
 #endif
 
+	/* Set the default hash algo */
+	if (set_default_signature_method() != 0) {
+		message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Unsupported signature "
+			"algorithm "DEFAULT_SIGNING_ALGO" configured");
+		return LASSO_ERROR_UNDEFINED;
+	}
+	if (set_min_allowed_hash_algo() != 0) {
+		message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Unsupported hash algorithm "
+			"algorithm "MIN_HASH_ALGO" configured");
+		return LASSO_ERROR_UNDEFINED;
+	}
+
+
 	/* Init Lasso classes */
 	for (i=0; functions[i]; i++)
 		functions[i]();
diff --git a/lasso/xml/tools.c b/lasso/xml/tools.c
index 290fd55f..ce322ee1 100644
--- a/lasso/xml/tools.c
+++ b/lasso/xml/tools.c
@@ -1505,16 +1505,6 @@ lasso_saml_constrain_dsigctxt(xmlSecDSigCtxPtr dsigCtx) {
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformExclC14NWithCommentsId) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformInclC14N11Id) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformInclC14N11WithCommentsId) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha1Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformHmacSha1Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformDsaSha1Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformRsaSha1Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha256Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformHmacSha256Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformRsaSha256Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha384Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformHmacSha384Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformRsaSha384Id) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha512Id) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformHmacSha512Id) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformRsaSha512Id) < 0)
@@ -1523,15 +1513,62 @@ lasso_saml_constrain_dsigctxt(xmlSecDSigCtxPtr dsigCtx) {
 		message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Error: failed to limit allowed signature transforms");
 		return FALSE;
 	}
+
+	if (lasso_get_min_signature_method() <= LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA384) {
+		if ((xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha384Id) < 0) ||
+			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformHmacSha384Id) < 0) ||
+			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformRsaSha384Id) < 0)) {
+
+			message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Error: failed to limit allowed sha384 signature transforms");
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+
+		if (xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha384Id) < 0) {
+
+			message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Error: failed to limit allowed sha384 reference transforms");
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (lasso_get_min_signature_method() <= LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA256) {
+		if ((xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha256Id) < 0) ||
+			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformHmacSha256Id) < 0) ||
+			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformRsaSha256Id) < 0)) {
+
+			message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Error: failed to limit allowed sha256 signature transforms");
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+
+		if (xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha256Id) < 0) {
+
+			message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Error: failed to limit allowed sha256 reference transforms");
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (lasso_get_min_signature_method() <= LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1) {
+		if ((xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha1Id) < 0) ||
+			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformHmacSha1Id) < 0) ||
+			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformDsaSha1Id) < 0) ||
+			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformRsaSha1Id) < 0)) {
+
+			message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Error: failed to limit allowed sha1 signature transforms");
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+
+		if (xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha1Id) < 0) {
+
+			message(G_LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL, "Error: failed to limit allowed sha1 reference transforms");
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if((xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformInclC14NId) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformExclC14NId) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformInclC14NWithCommentsId) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformExclC14NWithCommentsId) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformInclC14N11Id) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableSignatureTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformInclC14N11WithCommentsId) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha1Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha256Id) < 0) ||
-			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha384Id) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformSha512Id) < 0) ||
 			(xmlSecDSigCtxEnableReferenceTransform(dsigCtx, xmlSecTransformEnvelopedId) < 0)) {
 
diff --git a/lasso/xml/xml.c b/lasso/xml/xml.c
index 938844ba..f017ebbe 100644
--- a/lasso/xml/xml.c
+++ b/lasso/xml/xml.c
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ GHashTable *dst_services_by_prefix = NULL; /* ID-WSF 1 extra DST services, index
 GHashTable *idwsf2_dst_services_by_href = NULL; /* ID-WSF 2 DST services, indexed on href */
 GHashTable *idwsf2_dst_services_by_prefix = NULL; /* ID-WSF 2 DST services, indexed on prefix */
 
+
+static LassoSignatureMethod default_signature_method = LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1;
+static LassoSignatureMethod min_signature_method = LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1;
+
 /*****************************************************************************/
 /* global methods                                                            */
 /*****************************************************************************/
@@ -3689,3 +3693,23 @@ lasso_node_new_from_saml2_query(const char *url_or_qs, const char *param_name, L
 cleanup:
 	return result;
 }
+
+LassoSignatureMethod
+lasso_get_default_signature_method() {
+	return default_signature_method;
+}
+
+void
+lasso_set_default_signature_method(LassoSignatureMethod meth) {
+	default_signature_method = meth;
+}
+
+LassoSignatureMethod
+lasso_get_min_signature_method() {
+	return min_signature_method;
+}
+
+void
+lasso_set_min_signature_method(LassoSignatureMethod meth) {
+	min_signature_method = meth;
+}
diff --git a/lasso/xml/xml.h b/lasso/xml/xml.h
index 7660a064..d0d3e1b0 100644
--- a/lasso/xml/xml.h
+++ b/lasso/xml/xml.h
@@ -116,6 +116,15 @@ typedef enum {
 	LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_LAST
 } LassoSignatureMethod;
 
+/* signature method and hash strength */
+LassoSignatureMethod lasso_get_default_signature_method();
+
+void lasso_set_default_signature_method(LassoSignatureMethod meth);
+
+LassoSignatureMethod lasso_get_min_signature_method();
+
+void lasso_set_min_signature_method(LassoSignatureMethod meth);
+
 static inline gboolean
 lasso_validate_signature_method(LassoSignatureMethod signature_method)
 {
diff --git a/tests/random_tests.c b/tests/random_tests.c
index fa0367a3..cf112c7e 100644
--- a/tests/random_tests.c
+++ b/tests/random_tests.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ START_TEST(test01_server_new)
 	fail_unless(server->private_key != NULL);
 	fail_unless(server->private_key_password == NULL);
 	fail_unless(server->certificate != NULL);
-	fail_unless(server->signature_method == LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1);
+	fail_unless(server->signature_method == lasso_get_default_signature_method());
 	fail_unless(provider->ProviderID != NULL);
 	fail_unless(provider->role == 0);
 	fail_unless(g_file_get_contents(TESTSDATADIR "/idp1-la/metadata.xml", &content, &len, NULL));
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ START_TEST(test01_server_new)
 	fail_unless(server->private_key != NULL);
 	fail_unless(server->private_key_password == NULL);
 	fail_unless(server->certificate != NULL);
-	fail_unless(server->signature_method == LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1);
+	fail_unless(server->signature_method == lasso_get_default_signature_method());
 	fail_unless(server->providers != NULL);
 	fail_unless(provider->ProviderID != NULL);
 	fail_unless(provider->role == 0, "provider->role != 0 => provider :=  %d", provider->role);
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ START_TEST(test02_server_add_provider)
 	fail_unless(server->private_key != NULL);
 	fail_unless(! server->private_key_password);
 	fail_unless(server->certificate != NULL);
-	fail_unless(server->signature_method == LASSO_SIGNATURE_METHOD_RSA_SHA1);
+	fail_unless(server->signature_method == lasso_get_default_signature_method());
 	fail_unless(server->providers != NULL);
 	lasso_server_add_provider(
 			server,