Information encoding is the process of encryption in cryptography. Through this process, the information is transformed from its original, or plaintext, representation into a different format or ciphertext. In an ideal world, only those with permission could crack a ciphertext and get the original data in plaintext. While encryption does not by itself stop interference, it does prevent a potential interceptor from understanding the material.
Within the field of cryptography, encryption functions as a means of guaranteeing confidentiality. Sensitive data, including passwords and private correspondence, may be available to potential interceptors due to the possibility of data visibility on the Internet. Keys are used in the encryption and decryption processes. In cryptographic systems, symmetric keys and public key keys are the two primary kinds.
The development of many intricate cryptographic methods frequently involves the use of basic modular arithmetic.
Governments and armies have traditionally employed encryption to enable covert communication. Information protection in a variety of civilian systems now frequently uses it. For instance, according to a 2007 poll by the Computer Security Institute, 71% of businesses used encryption for part of their data in transit, while 53% used it for some of their data in storage. Data “at rest”—such as that kept on computers and storage devices like USB flash drives—can be secured via encryption. Confidential data, including customer personal details, have been revealed in several incidents in recent years due to theft or loss of laptops or backup drives; encrypting these files while they are at rest protects if physical security measures are compromised.
Another somewhat different example of employing encryption on data at rest is digital rights management systems, which guard software against reverse engineering and prohibit the unauthorized use or reproduction of copyrighted information (see also copy protection).
Additionally, data being sent via networks (such as the Internet and e-commerce), mobile phones, wireless microphones, wireless intercom systems, Bluetooth devices, and bank automated teller machines are among the devices that employ encryption to safeguard data while it is in transit. In recent years, there have been many reports of interceptions of data while it is in transit. To prevent unwanted users from listening in on network traffic, data should also be encrypted while it is sent between networks.
The encryption and decryption keys in symmetric-key methods are the same. Secure communication requires that the persons communicating have the same key. Every day, a fresh symmetric key was used by the German Enigma Machine to encode and decode messages.
The encryption key is made available for use for message encryption in public-key encryption systems. However, the decryption key that makes messages readable is only available to the recipient. All previous encryption techniques were symmetric-key until 1973 when public-key encryption was first detailed in a classified document: The work of Diffie and Hellman was published in a journal with a big readership, even though it was published later, and it demonstrated the importance of methodology. The Diffie-Hellman key exchange is the name given to this technique.
Renest–Shamir–Adleman, or RSA, is another well-known public-key cryptosystem. This 1978 creation is still in use today for digital signature applications. The two prime numbers chosen by the RSA algorithm, which helps create the encryption and decryption keys, are determined by applying number theory.
In 1991, Phil Zimmermann created Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), a public-key encryption program that is freely distributed along with its source code. Symantec acquired PGP in 2010, and it is updated regularly.
Governments and armies have traditionally employed encryption to enable covert communication. Information protection in a variety of civilian systems now frequently uses it. For instance, according to a 2007 poll by the Computer Security Institute, 71% of businesses used encryption for part of their data in transit, while 53% used it for some of their data in storage. Data “at rest”—such as that kept on computers and storage devices like USB flash drives—can be secured via encryption. Confidential data, including customer personal details, have been revealed in several incidents in recent years due to theft or loss of laptops or backup drives; encrypting these files while they are at rest protects if physical security measures are compromised.
Another somewhat different example of employing encryption on data at rest is digital rights management systems, which guard software against reverse engineering and prohibit the unauthorized use or reproduction of copyrighted information (see also copy protection).
Additionally, data being sent via networks (such as the Internet and e-commerce), mobile phones, wireless microphones, wireless intercom systems, Bluetooth devices, and bank automated teller machines are among the devices that employ encryption to safeguard data while it is in transit. In recent years, there have been many reports of interceptions of data while it is in transit. To prevent unwanted users from listening in on network traffic, data should also be encrypted while it is sent between networks.
The encryption and decryption keys in symmetric-key methods are the same. Secure communication requires that the persons communicating have the same key. Every day, a fresh symmetric key was used by the German Enigma Machine to encode and decode messages.
The encryption key is made available for use for message encryption in public-key encryption systems. However, the decryption key that makes messages readable is only available to the recipient. All previous encryption techniques were symmetric-key until 1973 when public-key encryption was first detailed in a classified document: The work of Diffie and Hellman was published in a journal with a big readership, even though it was published later, and it demonstrated the importance of methodology. The Diffie-Hellman key exchange is the name given to this technique.
Renest–Shamir–Adleman, or RSA, is another well-known public-key cryptosystem. This 1978 creation is still in use today for digital signature applications. The two prime numbers chosen by the RSA algorithm, which helps create the encryption and decryption keys, are determined by applying number theory.
In 1991, Phil Zimmermann created Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), a public-key encryption program that is freely distributed along with its source code. Symantec acquired PGP in 2010, and it is updated regularly.
