There is so much of information which is being passed on and retained in today electronic form. There is a growing dependence on digital technology due to this, making it essential to safeguard sensitive files from unauthorised access. Encryption, as one of the foundational security techniques, is an essential part that secures the cyber world around us.
What is Encryption?
Encryption is a way to convert the plain text (plaintext) format to encrypted form (cipher text-ciphertext). This change is implemented through a mathematical algorithm and a secret key. The ciphertext can only be turned back into its original form if the correct decryption key is used.
Types of Encryption
The encryption comes in two main varieties:
Symmetric Encryption:
Only one key is used for both encryption and decryption.
Quicker but with a security trade-off since the secret must be transferred securely between the parties.
Ex: AES, DES
Asymmetric Encryption:
Employs a key pair which consists of a public key and a private key.
Private key is secret and public key is public.
Only the matched private key could decrypt data encrypted with the public key.
Examples : RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm)
How Encryption Works
Encryption Process:
The plaintext is fed into a cipher.
The algorithm takes plaintext and runs a mathematical function through it and a secret key, producing ciphertext.
Decryption Process:
Input ciphertext to decryption algorithm
The algorithm uses the same mathematical function, but with the correct decryption key, to transform the ciphertext back into plaintext.
Applications of Encryption
There are numerous applications that implement encryption to safeguard sensitive information:
HTTPS: Keeping emails, instant messages, and other forms of online communication secure.
Security Data at rest — Encrypt data stored on hard drives, cloud storage, and other storage devices.
Online Transaction Security → How to keep credit card data and other sensitive information safe during an online purchase.
Digital Signatures: A way to prove the authenticity and integrity of digital documents.
Blockchain technology Security Within blockchain networks
Why Strong Encryption Matters
We absolutely need strong encryption in order to secure the digital domain of the world. It safeguards our privacy, our financial data, keeps away any kind of unauthorized access to sensitive data. With technology advancement, digital security threats are also advancing. We can better protect the security of our digital assets by understanding the principles of encryption and using strong encryption.
