We’ve all heard the term “encryption,” but what does it actually mean? It is very simple: “Encryption” is the process of putting information into a code. Text messages and emails, as well as banking details, cloud storage and more, can all be protected by this encryption method. This article will explain the many methods of encryption, how they safeguard data, and why they are important.
Let’s start with the question, “In what way is encryption used?”
Encryption is not a new thing in the digital age. In fact, cryptography has a long history, dating all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Symbol replacement was commonly used to encrypt texts in the ancient world. If you look at the famous Caesar cypher, for instance, you can see that it changed one letter for another a certain number of places down the alphabet.
The idea hasn’t changed since then. Digital encryption takes text that can be read (called “plaintext”) and codes it. In reality, this is achieved by intricate and powerful encryption algorithms, which are far more advanced than mere single-alphabet replacements.
We owe this to variables, which are also called keys. Each one is generated at random and unique. Every time you log in, your system might produce a new set of keys. In other words, if someone wants to steal your credit card information, they’ll need to know not only the algorithm but also the key. This is difficult, which is why encryption is resistant to brute force attacks. That’s why it’s one of the finest ways to protect your personal information online.
Types of Algorithm
Algorithms are classified into several types. Asymmetric and Symmetric alone make up the majority of the encryption types. The primary distinction between them is the way in which they use keys.
One key is used by both people communicating to encrypt and decrypt the information. Symmetric encryption does this with a single key that both people can use to do this. To communicate, both devices must have the key installed.
Public-key or asymmetric encryption, on the other hand, is a two-key method of encryption. The name comes from the fact that one key is private and the other one is public. The private key is known only to your phone or computer. Your phone or computer will send the public key to other devices that it wants to communicate in a way that is safe. It then needs its own private key and the public one to get the encrypted data. The “public” name doesn’t matter. People can’t get your information unless they have your private key.
There are also different algorithms that can use symmetric or asymmetric encryption. The following are five of the most regularly used encryption algorithms:
Algorithms for encryption
1). The Advanced Encryption Standard, or AES, is one of the most secure symmetric encryption algorithms that are still in use today. A 128-bit block size and key lengths of 128, 192, or 256 bits are used. AES is used by a lot of businesses, including the US government.
2). A new encryption standard called Triple DES was used when the original Data Encryption Standard, or DES, was hacked. There are three 56-bit keys in its name. It is a symmetric encryption algorithm and hasn’t been popular in recent years because more secure options like AES have come out, making it less popular than it used to be.
3). Bruce Schneier came up with the encryption algorithm Blowfish. In the same way, Triple DES did, it came out to replace the old DES. It is a symmetric-key block cypher that is very safe. Plus, it’s in the public domain, so anyone can use it.
4). Bruce Schneier came up with Twofish, which is a more advanced version of Blowfish, but not as good as Blowfish itself. In this type of encryption, the keys can be up to 256 bits long. As with its predecessor, it is both fast and safe.
5). RSA is an asymmetric encryption algorithm that has been used for a long time and is one of the most common ways to protect data online. It takes a long time, but it is thought to be very safe.
What is Encryption used for?
Encryption is very important for having a private and safe online experience. In every case, you need to keep your private information safe. Whether you’re sending an email, shopping online or talking to your friends, there’s always important information that needs to be kept safe.
You might not even know that many of the online services you use already have some kind of encryption in place. Encryption is used in a variety of ways, and here are a few examples.
End-to-End Encryption
End-to-end encryption is definitely something you’ve heard of because of its increasing popularity in recent years. So, how exactly does it work? Most of the information you send online (like emails) is sent through and stored by third parties, like your email provider. When data is encrypted, it’s usually only when it’s being transferred. When your email reaches its destination, it may not be as safe as it was when it was sent to you at first.
Even though it sounds like the same thing, end-to-end encryption, or E2EE, doesn’t work the same way. End-to-end encryption ensures that information can only be viewed by the parties involved in the conversation. Nobody, not even your ISP or email provider, has the ability to decode this type of encryption. This makes it ideal for both privacy-conscious and security-conscious individuals. E2EE isn’t 100% safe, but it’s a lot better than most other options.
If you want to send messages or send emails, there are already a lot of services that use end-to-end encryption. These include Signal, WhatsApp, and Proton Mail.
HTTPS
It’s important to know about HTTPS if you want to keep your browsing habits and data private and safe. A padlock is often seen in the corner of your browser’s address bar to show that this protocol is being used on the Internet. SSL or Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption is used to ensure confidential data is sent and received securely.
By asking for a digital or public key certificate, HTTPS makes sure that your connection is safe. This certificate needs to be signed by a third party that you can trust. Instead of protecting your data all the way from start to finish, HTTPS protects your data while it is in transit. As a result, it’s less private than some other options, but it’s an absolute must for anyone who cares about the security of their online information.
Installing an add-on like HTTPS Everywhere will ensure that all of your web interactions are encrypted via HTTPS. Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Firefox for Android are just a few of the popular browsers that support this add-on.
Cloud storage encryption
The practice of archiving digital media on the cloud has become more widespread in recent years. Encryption is therefore required to safeguard confidential data. Almost every cloud storage service provides at least one type of it.
A cloud service provider has to deal with three kinds of data, which are called “data at rest,” “data on the move,” and “data in use.” Their names are rather self-explanatory. The first type is data that has been stored but is not actively in use. Data-in-use, on the other hand, is frequently accessed by programmes and hence more difficult to encrypt than data-in-transit.
It all depends on who you use for your service. Some companies may encrypt both the data that is at rest and the data that is in transit. Other companies may only encrypt data that is deemed to be sensitive. The types of encryption also vary from one service to the next. It’s a pity that E2EE is still so rare in the cloud. Many cloud storage services don’t have encryption that goes all the way from the cloud to the cloud.
To be sure, the majority of well-known services offer TSL/SSL encryption for data in transit as well as some type of encryption for data at rest. End-to-end encryption solutions such as Boxcryptor are available from some services such as Dropbox, for example. They have the ability to encrypt your files before they are sent to the cloud.
Disk encryption
To be even safer, you might want to protect the files you keep on your computer as well. These are the kinds of things that disc encryption can do for you. It lets you protect everything on your hard drive by encrypting it.
Disk encryption can be accomplished in two ways: either software or hardware. You’d need a self-encrypting drive for the latter option. Makes it easy to keep your files safe by encrypting and decrypting them automatically. Many different companies make self-encrypting drives, like Samsung, Seagate, Toshiba, and others. These drives can be both SSDs and HDDs. However, they usually sell for a lot of money.
Encrypting your existing drive using software can save you money. There are numerous options available, but you must first understand a few fundamentals. In most cases, disc encryption software does real-time encryption, which is also called “on the fly” encryption (OTFE). This means that when data is loaded and saved, it is encrypted and decrypted as well. In some cases, this could slow down the performance of the software you use. The cost may be worth it for people who prioritise safety above everything else. An excellent option for people who value security and privacy is BitLocker, which employs the AES encryption method with 128- or 256-bit keys.
Encryption is important for various reasons, but here are two that are obvious
What do you have to fear if you have nothing to hide? That’s what a lot of people think, but data is a big deal now, so that’s not true. When someone knows your browsing or shopping habits, you don’t want them to get your credit card number or private photos. This is why encryption is important.
PRIVACY
It is important to keep some interactions private, whether they are personal or professional. Photographs, movies, papers, and other types of media are all subject to the same restrictions. As long as you don’t want to share these with anyone else, encryption is a must.
SECURITY
In the present pandemic situation, we are compelled to perform a variety of tasks that necessitate the entry of personal data onto the internet. Whether you’re shopping or filling out tax forms, no one wants their credit card information or personal information stolen.
You can’t be safe from every attack that comes your way, but encryption can help. If you don’t have it, you’re much more likely to be spied on and have your data stolen without it.
