Encryption
Cryptography Terms
Cryptography is the process of hiding or coding information so that only the person a message was
intended for can read it. The art of cryptography has been used to code messages for thousands of years
and continues to be used in bank cards, computer passwords, and ecommerce.
• Encryption: Encryption alters data into a form that is unreadable by anybody for whom the data is
not intended. It cannot prevent the data being intercepted, but it stops it from making any sense to
the eavesdropper. This is particularly important if the data is sensitive or confidential (for example,
credit card/bank details, medical history or legal documents).
• Decryption: The process of reversing the encrypted process.
• Key: A secret like a code used to encrypt and decrypt information. There are a few different types of
keys used in cryptography.
• Plain text: Text that is not encrypted
• Cypher text: Text that has been encrypted.
Types Of Encryptions
There are two types of encryption algorithms that can be used during data transmission. These are:
• Symmetric encryption
• Asymmetric encryption
Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at each of the methods and how
they work.
Symmetric Encryption
Symmetric encryption is a type of
encryption where the key used
for encrypting a message is the
same one used for decrypting the
message. The sending computer
must send both the encrypted
message and the key, but
separately. The receiving
computer will then use the key it
has received to decrypt the
message.
Suppose our encryption key is: 4291362856
which means every letter in a word is shifted across the alphabet +4, +2, +9, +1, and so on, places. For example,
here is the message COMPUTER SCIENCE IS EXCITING (plaintext on the top line of) before and after applying
the encryption key (forming the ciphertext shown on the bottom line)
This is the simplest kind of encryption that involves only one secret key to cipher (A message written in a
secret code) and decipher information. Symmetric encryption is an old and best-known technique. It uses a
secret key that can either be a number, a word or a string of random letters. It is a blended with the plain text
of a message to change the content in a particular way. The sender and the recipient should know the secret
key that is used to encrypt and decrypt all the messages. Blowfish, AES, RC4, DES, RC5, and RC6 are examples
of symmetric encryption. The most widely used symmetric algorithm is AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256.
The main disadvantage of the symmetric key encryption is that all parties involved have to exchange the key
used to encrypt the data before they can decrypt it. Although symmetric encryption is a simple and
straightforward method of encryption, the problem is that if a malicious user intercepts the key, they can read
the message.
Asymmetric Encryption.
In asymmetric encryption,
two separate keys are used.
One key is used for
encryption and the other
key is used for decryption.
A key used to encrypt a
message cannot be used to
decrypt the message. So,
each device sending or
receiving the message has
two keys, a private key and
a public key. The public key,
as the name suggests, is
visible to all the computers
that want to exchange an
encrypted message. On the
other hand, the private key
is known only to the
computer where it resides.
The advantage of asymmetric encryption is that it is much more reliable compared to symmetric encryption.
The person or device sending the message uses the recipient’s public key to encrypt the message, but the
person decrypting the message is the only one with the correct key to decrypt the message. A message cannot
be encrypted by two devices attempting to share the same key. The receiver’s private key is related to their
public key, but that relationship is mathematical and indecipherable without the keys themselves. Click the
link below to watch a video on encryption method.
[Link]
Difference between Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption
• Symmetric encryption uses a single key that needs to be shared among the people who need to
receive the message while asymmetric encryption uses a pair of public key and a private key to
encrypt and decrypt messages when communicating.
• Symmetric encryption is an old technique while asymmetric encryption is relatively new.
• Asymmetric encryption was introduced to complement the inherent problem of the need to share
the key in symmetric encryption model, eliminating the need to share the key by using a pair of
public-private keys.
• Asymmetric encryption takes relatively more time than the symmetric encryption.
Conclusion
When it comes to encryption, the latest schemes may necessarily the best fit. You should always use the
encryption algorithm that is right for the task at hand. In fact, as cryptography takes a new shift, new
algorithms are being developed in a bid to catch up with the eavesdroppers and secure information to
enhance confidentiality. Hackers are bound to make it tough for experts in the coming years, thus expect more
from the cryptographic community!