Only those with the private key can turn the encrypted data back into intelligible plaintext.Īsymmetric encryption is more secure because it uses two encryption keys.Įarly encryption algorithms, such as the Data Encryption Standard (DES), used 56-bit keys to encode data. The public key can be shared with anyone, which is why this method is also known as public-key encryption. Symmetric encryption uses one encryption key to encode and decode data.Īsymmetric encryption is more secure since it uses two keys: a public key to encrypt the data and a private key to decrypt it. That’s why symmetric encryption is also known as private-key encryption - if the key becomes public, the encryption loses its security. Senders give the key to the intended recipient before they can use it, and anyone who has the key can access the information. Symmetric encryption uses the same key to both encrypt the data and later decrypt it.
Here are the main differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption: Symmetric and asymmetric encryption are the two primary types of encryption. The data can be decoded only with the key for that specific encryption session. Modern algorithms are so complex that the same plaintext will result in a different ciphertext every time the algorithm is applied. Modern algorithms break up the plaintext data into groups called blocks, then encrypt each block as a unit - that’s why they’re known as block ciphers. This is equally true for both data at rest (stored someplace, like on a hard drive) and data in motion (being electronically transferred from one place to another, like over a network or the internet).Įncryption algorithms use cryptographic keys, which are strings of characters, to scramble data into seemingly random gibberish. The new text is unreadable unless someone uses the right decryption key to decode it. How does encryption work?Įncryption works by sending the original data (or plaintext) through an algorithm (a cipher), whic h encrypts the data into ciphertext.
People use encryption specifically to prevent unauthorized use of data. It is an operational process that uses math and algorithms to encode plaintext more efficiently and in more complex ways. The meaning of cryptography comes from the Greek for “secret writing.” People have been using cryptographic systems for thousands of years to disguise written information so that only the intended recipient can read it.Įncryption is just one form of cryptography. The practice of encryption is a form of cryptography.
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Data Encryption: What is it & How Does it Work? | Avast Logo Ameba Icon Security Icon Security White Icon Privacy Icon Performance Icon Privacy Icon Security Icon Performance Icons/45/01 Security/Other-Threats Icons / 32 / Bloatware removal Icons / 32 / Registry Cleaner Icons / 32 / CleanUp Icons / Feature / 32 / Mac Icons / 32 / Browser cleanup Icons/32/01 Security/Malware Icons/32/01 Security/Viruses Icons/32/01 Security/Other-Threats Icons/32/01 Security/Passwords Icons/32/01 Security/Ransomware Icons/32/01 Security/Business Icons/32/02 Privacy/Browser Icons/32/02 Privacy/IP adress Icons/32/02 Privacy/VPN Icons/32/02 Privacy/Proxy Icons/32/02 Privacy/Streaming Icons/32/03 Performance/Celaning Icons/32/03 Performance/Drivers Icons/32/03 Performance/Gaming Icons/32/03 Performance/Hardware Icons/32/03 Performance/Speed Icons / 32 / Bloatware removal Icons / 32 / Registry Cleaner Win Icons / 32 / CleanUp Icons / Feature / 32 / Mac Icons / 32 / Browser cleanup Icons/60/02 Privacy/02_Privacy Icons/60/01 Security/01_Security Icons/60/03 Performance/03_Performance Icons/80/01 Security/IoT Icons/80/01 Security/Malware Icons/80/01 Security/Passwords Icons/80/01 Security/Ransomware Icons/80/01 Security/Viruses Icons/80/01 Security/Other-Threats Icons/80/03 Security/Business Icons/80/02 Privacy/Browser Icons/80/02 Privacy/IP adress Icons/80/02 Privacy/VPN Icons/80/02 Privacy/Proxy Icons/80/02 Privacy/Streaming Icons/80/03 Performance/Celaning Icons/80/03 Performance/Drivers Icons/80/03 Performance/Gaming Icons/80/03 Performance/Hardware Icons/80/03 Performance/Speed Icons/80/03 Performance/03_Performance Icons/80/02 Privacy/02_Privacyĭata encryption increases the security of your sensitive data and personal information, offering you protection and privacy in an unpredictable online world.