Cryptography vs Encryption

Cryptography is the study of secure communication and is used to protect information from unauthorised access. Cryptography is used in various areas, such as confidentiality (hiding the contents of a message), data integrity (preventing unauthorised changes to a statement), and authentication (verifying the identity of a sender).

Encryption is one of the main techniques used in cryptography. Using a key, it converts plaintext (readable information) into ciphertext (unreadable information). The key is used to encrypt and decrypt the data. The encrypted information can only be decrypted and read by someone with access to the key.

There are two main types of encryption: symmetric and asymmetric.

Symmetric encryption, also known as shared-key encryption, uses the same key for encryption and decryption. The sender and receiver must both have access to the same key to encrypt and decrypt the information. Symmetric encryption is fast and efficient but has the drawback that the key must be shared securely between the sender and receiver, which can be challenging.

Asymmetric encryption, also known as public-key encryption, uses two keys: a public key and a private key. The public key encrypts the information, and the private key decrypts it. The public key can be freely shared, while the private key must be kept secret. This type of encryption is more secure but is slower and more complex than symmetric encryption.

A popular asymmetric encryption algorithm was RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), invented in 1977. RSA uses the mathematical properties of large prime numbers to encrypt and decrypt information.

Another popular encryption algorithm is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), a symmetric encryption algorithm. The U.S. government adopted AES in 2001 as the standard for secure information encryption.

In conclusion, cryptography and encryption are critical in ensuring information security in the digital age. The use of encryption algorithms helps to protect sensitive information from unauthorised access, and the use of cryptographic techniques helps to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of communication.

Leave a comment or message me, and let’s connect!

You can follow me on Medium and LinkedIn.

All the best,

Luis Soares

Head of Engineering | Solutions Architect | Blockchain & Fintech SME | Data & Artificial Intelligence Researcher. 20+ years of experience in Technology.

#cryptography #encryption #security #securenetwork #data #softwareengineering #softwaredevelopment