Encryption is the way of encoding data so that only authorized people can decode and read it. In terms of technical, it is the process of converting human-readable plain text to incomprehensible text, also known as ciphertext. Encryption requires the use of a cryptographic key, which is a set of mathematical values that both the sender and the recipient of an encrypted message agree on.
Types of Encryption
The two main kinds of encryption are symmetric encryption and asymmetric encryption. Asymmetric encryption is also known as public-key encryption. In symmetric encryption, there is only one key, and all communicating parties use the same (secret) key for both encryption and decryption. In Asymmetric, or public key, encryption, there are two keys: one key is used for encryption, and a different key is used for decryption. The decryption key is kept private (hence the “private key” name), while the encryption key is shared publicly, for anyone to use (hence the “public key” name). Asymmetric encryption is a foundational technology for TLS (often called SSL).
Why Encryption is important?
Encryption is important for the following reasons, to maintain an individual’s privacy, give them security over their content, and help prevent cybercrime such as Identity theft. Encryption makes it hard for thieves to get hold of your data that is available digitally. From your medical records, financial and banking information, encryption protects it from getting hacked. If your data is encrypted, attackers will not be able to use it without the encryption key. Data encryption helps to ensure that data is secure. Here are the top ways in which data encryption plays a major role.
- Privacy: Encryption is a way to ensure that your data cannot be read by anybody except the intended recipient or its owner. This includes attackers, ad networks, and Internet Service Providers as well in some cases Government from intercepting sensitive information like bank account numbers!
- Security: People and organizations store a lot of sensitive data on their computers. If those machines are lost or stolen, the information can be compromised – but encryption helps prevent this! When you use an encrypted channel for communication with someone else (like email), it means that no one except those communicating has access to what’s being said because only they know how to decode that communication.
- Data integrity: Data integrity is important because it prevents harmful behavior such as on-path attacks. When data is transmitted across the internet, encryption ensures that what you receive has not been tampered with during transmission!
- Authentication: Public key encryption is one of the most important security technologies available today. Public key encryption, among other things, can be used to establish that a website’s owner owns the private key listed in the website’s TLS certificate. This allows users of the website to be sure that they are connected to the real website
- Regulations: Keeping your data encrypted is not only the law but also a smart move for businesses. In today’s highly competitive market it can make or break you when customers are shopping around!
The following industries and government regulations require companies that handle user information to maintain its integrity by using an encoding system like HIPAA (Healthcare & Insurance Portability Accountability Act), PCI-DSS(PCI Data Security Standard) & GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation
How encryption is used to keep Internet browsing secure?
HTTPS is a protocol that establishes an encrypted connection between your web browser and the website you are viewing.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the protocol responsible for secure requests and responses. It ensures that information sent over https://www will not be accessible to third parties, as well as authenticating website origin servers. A site served with this header shows up in your browser’s address bar displaying “HTTPS” rather than HTTP.” The address bar is protected by a locked padlock to ensure your safety and security while browsing the web.
HTTPS uses the security protocol called Transport Layer Security (TLS). SSL was once a popular choice for website encryption, but now it has been replaced by more advanced and robust TLS. When you visit an HTTPS-enabled site with this certificate installed on your browser’s origin server, you will be assured that all data is being encrypted as intended so no one can read what information or personal details are being sent back to their computer through either active snooping techniques like packet sniffing or man in middle attacks.
With free encryption for all sites, the Internet is becoming far more secure. Technology has given people the freedom to stay connected wherever they are. However, this freedom comes at a price. With cybercriminals constantly evolving and creating sophisticated tricks to steal information, the only way to truly gain control and ownership of your information is by ensuring it is encrypted. There are lots of solutions out there, such as Siccura that help individuals, and businesses keep their data secure and in their control.