What Is Encryption

Encryption is a method or a technique used
to encode a message so that it can’t be read
by a normal user/person. Its an art of secret
writing, It can also be defined as converting
information from plain text using an
algorithm or a cipher to make it unreadable,
So that the converted information can only
be read by the person who is having the
special knowledge. The process of encoding
is known as Encryption and its reverse
process i.e. decoding it is known as
Decryption. Encryption is very useful when it
comes to protecting your confidential data
from being stolen. It is helpful when data is
transmitted over the network, it safe guards
you data from sniffers. When data is needed
to be encrypted over a network, SSL
Protocol is used for encryption purpose. SSL
stands for Secure Socket Layer.
Types of Encryption
Symmetrical Key : This type of encryption is
also know as Shared Key Secret. In
symmetrical encryption, the key which is
used in the process of encryption, that same
key is also used in the process of decryption.
If two parties want to exchange the
encrypted data securely, both of them
should have the same copy of symmetric
key.
Asymmetrical Key : This type of encryption is
also know as Public Key. In this type of
encryption, keys are generated in pairs,
public key and private key. In asymmetrical
encryption key used to encipher is different
from the key used to decipher. Therefore the
two partners have two different keys, one is
made public and other one is made private.
Let’s take up an example to understand the
concept in an easy way.
Suppose, John wants to send a message to
Mike, he just ciphers the message with the
public key and sends it to Mike. Since Mike
is having the secret key, he can and decipher
the message and read its content.