Encryption is the process of converting data and information into a form which can only be decoded and understood by those who hold the keys. This can be accomplished using many mathematic models and is utilized every day to safeguard the data and information that business and consumers use in their daily lives.
Modern encryption algorithms play an important role in ensuring the security of digital information stored on computers or transmitted through networks like the internet. It also supports security measures such as authentication (verifying the source of a message) and integrity (ensuring that it hasn’t been altered) and non-repudiation (the ability to prove that a person or company has sent an email).
The encryption process converts human-readable plaintext into an encoded format, referred to as ciphertext through the use of algorithms or mathematical models. The ciphertext is only readable by decryption codes, which is an encrypted password or sequence of numbers that the sender and recipient have agreed on. The more secure the cryptographic key, the more difficult it will be for unauthorised third parties to decipher using brute force methods such as trying every possible string of characters.
Many privacy and security laws require the use of strong encryption to ensure that personal information stays private and safe. Many individuals and businesses use encryption to safeguard files, folders and entire computers by using programs like 7-Zip and CertainSafe. They can also protect the entire hard drive on the cloud via virtual private networks. Many companies offer a variety of encryption options, allowing for the strongest protection.
