Encryption

Encryption is the process used to cloak information while it travels from its source to its destination. While coded messages have been documented as far back as the Roman Empire, it wasn’t until fairly recently that organizations with a strong need for security, such as the government and the military, used encryption. But with the advent of the internet, there is a strong need to encrypt information because a lot of sensitive information is broadcasted and we don’t know who is listening.

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=What is encryption?=

Encryption is based on the science of cryptography, “The discipline which embodies principles, means and methods for the transformation of data in order to hide its information content, prevent its undetected modification, or prevent its unauthorized use ([|www.ca0.net/Glossary.html]).” In order to “cloak” the information, a key has to be used in order to create a system which allows a message to be encoded at its source and decoded at its destination. To generate keys, ciphers, essentially complex algorithms, are used.

=Types of encryption=

There are a few types of encryption. The two most common forms are symmetric-key encryption and public-key encryption.

Symmetric-key encryption
In symmetric-key encryption, the sender and receiver both have the secret key. That way the sender can encrypt the message and the receiver can decrypt the message with the same key.

Public-key encryption
Public-key encryption uses an amalgamation of a private key and a public key. Your computer maintains possession of the private key, while the public key is given to any other computer that wants to communicate securely with your computer.

References:

Tyson, Jeff. "Encryption." __Howstuffworks.com__. 22 Feb. 2006 . __Glossary of Secure Financial Terms__. 22 Feb. 2006 . "Encryption." __Wikipedia__. 22 Feb. 2006 .