What is Encryption in Computing?

Encryption is extensively used to protect data stored on electronic systems and data transmitted across computer networks, such as the internet. For security considerations, financial transactions and private messaging are frequently encrypted. It is essential for determining if data has been altered (data integrity), boosting people's confidence that they are communicating with the individuals they believe they are conversing with (identification verification), and confirming that messages have been sent and received (non-repudiation).

There are vast quantities of sensitive data handled and kept on the cloud or on connected servers. Encryption employs cybersecurity to protect against brute-force attacks and cyber-attacks, such as malware and ransomware. Encryption protects transferred digital information in the cloud and on computer systems.

There are two types of digital data: transmitted data, also known as data in motion, and stored digital data, also known as data at rest.

To secure data, contemporary encryption methods have superseded the obsolete Data Encryption Standard. These algorithms protect data and feed security initiatives, such as integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation. The algorithms first validate the origin of communication by authenticating it. Next, they examine the integrity to ensure that the contents have not been altered. The non-repudiation initiative finally prevents senders from rejecting valid activities.

Encryption is a means of encrypting information so that only certified keyholders can interpret the data. Encryption takes decipherable information and changes it, so it looks random. Encryption needs the employment of an encryption key: a set of mathematical rules and values that both the sender and the receiver know. If the key is compromised, however, the ciphertext may be deciphered by anybody owning that key.

In this article, we defined encryption, described how it operates and listed various encryption types. Additionally, you can find the benefits and drawbacks of encryption, the most popular encryption protocols, and some frequently asked questions and their answers.

What is Encryption Used for?

Encryption is a procedure that modifies data so that its meaning is obscured; in other words, it changes the data into something that seems random and meaningless. The data to be encrypted is typically referred to as the plaintext; once encrypted, it becomes the ciphertext. It may be a hidden message, a picture, a voice recording, or even all of your phone's information. The original data can be retrieved using the decryption procedure.

Encryption is used to secure information, such as the communications containing your account information that you transmit to your bank. You might use encryption to encrypt your messages to pals or your computer's data. Organizations and governments utilize encryption to safeguard critical data and plans. Encryption is employed by people and organizations wishing to evade discovery, oppose repressive governments, or for illicit objectives.

How Does Encryption Work?

Encryption scrambles your data using algorithms. It is then transferred to the recipient, who decodes the message using a key. There are a variety of algorithms, each of which entails distinct methods for encrypting and decrypting data.

Consider encrypted data as documents locked in a safe. You can only have access to the documents if you possess the key to the safe. If the safe enters into the hands of someone without the key, it will be useless: the papers and information would remain inaccessible and unreadable. Based on this example, the sender of an encrypted file uses the cryptographic key to lock the safe (i.e. encrypt the contents). A secret key is required for the receiver to open the safe (i.e. decode the data).

It is crucial that the encryption key (the technique used to encrypt data) is selected with great care. If this technique is too easy, fraudsters or other parties might simply crack it and decode the sensitive data.

Here are some fundamental terms associated with encryption:

• Algorithm: Algorithms, often known as ciphers, are the rules or instructions for the encryption procedure. Encryption efficiency is determined by the key length, functionality, and characteristics of the employed encryption technology.

• Decryption: Decryption is the process of transforming unreadable ciphertext into information that can be read.

• Key: A random string of bits used to encrypt and decrypt data constitutes an encryption key. Each key is unique, and longer keys are more difficult to compromise. Private key lengths are typically 128 or 256 bits, whereas public key lengths are 2048 bits.

What are the Types of Encryption?

In general usage today are two forms of encryption: symmetric and asymmetric encryption. The term stems from whether or not encryption and decryption utilize the same key. Two basic encryption methods are outlined below:

1. Symmetric Encryption: Using the same key to encrypt and decode data is symmetric encryption. Both the sender and the recipient must have the same secret key for this to operate. It is also essential to consider a safe way for transferring the key between the sender and receiver. Common techniques of symmetric encryption are given below:

   • Data Encryption Standards (DES): DES is a low-level encryption block cipher technique that translates plain text in blocks of 64 bits and turns it to ciphertext using keys of 48 bits.
   • Triple DES: Triple DES conducts DES encryption three distinct times by encrypting, decrypting, and then encrypting data again.
   • Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): AES is generally referred to as the gold standard for data encryption and is the U.S. government standard globally.
   • Twofish: Twofish is regarded as one of the fastest encryption methods and is free to use.

2. Asymmetric Encryption: Asymmetric encryption employs the concept of a key pair, in which the encryption and decryption processes use distinct keys. This encryption technique utilizes two distinct encryption keys:

   • Public Key: The public key is utilized throughout the encryption process. Everyone has access to this key, thus anybody can use it to encrypt data.
   • Private Key: The private key is used to decode the ciphertext and read the message by the recipient.

The owner keeps the private key confidential, while the public key is shared with authorized recipients or made available to the public. Only the recipient's private key may decode data encrypted using the recipient's public key. Therefore, data may be sent without the danger of unauthorized or illegal access.

Common asymmetric encryption methods:

• RSA: RSA, named after computer scientists Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman, is a common method used to encrypt data with a public key and decode with a private key in order to transmit data securely.
• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): PKI is a method for regulating encryption keys by issuing and managing digital certificates.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Encryption?

Regarding privacy and security, there is no such thing as perfection. Simply put, there is a solution that is so difficult to circumvent that it is not worth whatever is hidden behind it. Due to the high cost and variety, businesses require the cloud's benefits. This feature includes the ability to spin up or decommission servers as market requirements change. So, what occurs if the service provider requests to leave? The virtualized contexts can offer multitenancy with more flexibility and cost savings. If both service providers possess encrypted data and encryption keys, the data can be accessed. To resolve this issue, it makes appropriate to encrypt data on the cloud and store encryption keys on the user's end. Although several firms do not consider managing encryption keys, regardless of how basic the key security solution may be. They have questions regarding backup, pricing, and catastrophe recovery.

Payment cards are utilized by consumers for a variety of transactions, which necessitates the safety of the card and related data. The majority of cardholders are aware that their card-related information and data are secure. Therefore, encryption is one of PCI DSS's successful strategies (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).

If a data breach occurs and personal information is lost, the compromised group must notify the impacted persons. Any jurisdictions have a public notification with a safe harbor clause if intercepted data is protected and security keys are not compromised. Therefore, deploying encryption and thorough key protection might save a substantial amount of cash in the event of a breach.

Numerous organizations now provide online services that include virtual offices that are not protected by their very presence. There is a very real chance of equipment and storage being stolen. On these vulnerable servers, the private information of a number of these businesses resides. Encryption guards against data tampering and accidental deletion, and modern security systems have expanded possibilities. Imagine delivering cryptographic keys to distant data only during working hours, which would render the code inoperable if the lights went out.

Encryption is a well-known method for protecting data from unauthorized persons and organizations. One of the fundamental benefits of encryption is that it provides data access to agencies that are familiar with the encryption keys and passwords. However, the few downsides of data encryption listed below warrant careful consideration.

The user would be unable to access the encrypted file if they lost the password or key. Using simpler keys in data encryption, however, renders the data vulnerable, as anybody may randomly access it.

Encryption is a valuable data security approach; but, it demands plenty of resources, including data processing, time, the use of several encryption algorithms, and decryption. Therefore, this method is quite costly.

If a company does not recognize any of the restrictions imposed by encryption techniques, it is possible to develop arbitrary expectations and requirements that might compromise data encryption security.

Data protection solutions might be difficult when the user applies them to existing systems and applications. This may negatively affect typical device operations.

Figure 1. Advantages and Disadvantages of Encryption

What is an Encryption Protocol?

Encryption is achieved using encryption techniques. These algorithms perform all cryptographic operations on plaintext data using the encryption key. Then, these algorithms are implemented into encryption protocols to safeguard data for various purposes. The purpose of an encryption protocol is to serve a certain purpose. The capabilities of encryption protocols range from communications with TLS/SSL to remote computer connections with SSH.

The most common Encryption Protocols are as follows:

• TLS/SSL: TLS/SSL is the most used encryption mechanism used on the Internet every day. Transport Layer Security/ Secure Sockets Layer is an encryption technology that protects the security of communications between a client and a server. If your web browser's connection to a website is protected with TLS/SSL, the search bar will display a padlock and the term "https". TLS/SSL does not perform encryption; it employs a number of encryption techniques, such as RSA and AES, to encrypt communications. SSL/TLS is considered an encryption protocol for this reason. It is highly popular to utilize TLS/SSL to encrypt communications, as a variety of encryption techniques are employed with it. TLS/SSL can be used for user authentication, traffic encryption, and demonstrating that data was not altered in transit.

  In order to protect the initial connection between client and server, TLS/SSL uses an asymmetric key pair in a "Handshake" procedure. During this "Handshake", the precise protocol version to be used is chosen, the TLS/SSL certificates of both the server and client are checked, the algorithm for the "Record" process is chosen, and the shared key is produced using symmetric encryption. The shared key is subsequently utilized in the "Record" protocol, the subsequent communication stage. In this method, packets shared by two users are encrypted using a shared key to provide the most secure form of communication.

• IPsec: IPsec, or Internet Protocol Security, is a protocol that uses encryption algorithms such as 3DES, AES, SHA, and CBC to encrypt data in applications, routing, and Virtual Private Networks. IPsec safeguards data in transit from one point to another using its two modes, tunneling, and transport. Transport mode encrypts just the message's content and not its header. Due to the fact that some information may be gleaned from the header, this is only used for straightforward data transfer scenarios, such as connecting to a server or workstation. In contrast, tunneling mode encrypts and authenticates both the payload and the header. Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, most frequently employ tunneling mode. TLS/SSL is the recommended approach for data-in-transit encryption and authentication, despite the fact that utilizing IPsec VPNs is often faster due to IPsec's speedier connection establishment.

• Secure Shell, or SSH: SSH is an additional sort of encryption protocol. SSH functions similarly to a VPN. Users use SSH to securely and remotely connect to machines, transfer files, and forward ports by establishing an encrypted tunnel. The transit level, the user authentication level, and the connection level are the three levels at which SSH operates. The transport level is the layer that securely links two parties, encrypts any data transmitted between them, authenticates the users to each other, and guarantees that the data exchanged between the users is not altered in transit. To exchange keys, the two parties in an SSH connection must connect and then use the Diffie-Hellman key exchange to transfer client and server keys. During this step of SSH, the symmetric algorithm, asymmetric algorithm, message authentication algorithm, and hash algorithm for data and message transfer are selected. The client authenticates its identity at the authentication level using a supported authentication mechanism given by the server at the transport layer. The in question authentication mechanism might be anything, from a password to a digital signature. The connection level is responsible for all server-client connections. For each communication between the server and the client, a separate channel is opened. When numerous sessions are formed on the same server, for example, a separate communication channel is started for each session. Either the client or the server may initiate a new communication channel, provided that both parties have access to the channel's specifications.

• PGP: OpenPGP, generally known as PGP, is an encryption protocol that enables users to encrypt and digitally sign their communications, providing the message sender with a more secure way of authentication and data integrity protection. Principally, PGP is utilized to safeguard critical email information. In the 1990s, PGP was created in an effort to make it a universally utilized and compatible technology. PGP is free to use and compatible with a variety of email programs. PGP supports a variety of encryption techniques, including RSA and DSA for asymmetric encryption, AES, 3DES, and Twofish for symmetric encryption, and SHA for hashing. Throughout the years, several vulnerabilities in PGP have been discovered, however, these problems have always been fixed by upgrades or suggestions.

  Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, or S/MIME, is an email-based encryption system that competes with OpenPGP. Similar to PGP, S/MIME enables users to encrypt and sign email data for further protection against attackers. S/MIME differs from PGP in that it employs distinct encryption techniques to protect data.

• Kerberos: The encryption protocol Kerberos functions as a mechanism for single sign-on authentication. The protocol uses a central authentication and key distribution server to authenticate its users. After authentication, users of the protocol are granted "tickets" that allow them to access the various network services. When a client with a "ticket" contacts a server, the server validates the "ticket" and provides access to the user. The primary use of Kerberos is in Local Area Networks (LANs) and the establishment of shared secrets. Kerberos is a well-known and often-used encryption system, however the need that both the client and server contain code to use Kerberos deters some businesses from employing it.

What is the Difference Between Encryption and Decryption?

Encryption is the transformation of a regular communication (plaintext) into an unintelligible one (Ciphertext). While Encryption is the act of transforming original messages into meaningless communication (Ciphertext). Decryption is the process of converting an encrypted message back to its original form (Plaintext). Some of the differences between Encryption and Decryption can be listed below:

Encryption	Decryption
The process of transforming a normal message into a meaningless message is known as encryption	While the process of restoring a meaningless message to its original form is known as decryption.
Takes place at the sender's end.	Happens at the receiver's end.
Its major task is to convert the plain text into cipher text.	The cipher text to plain text conversion is its primary function.
Both public and secret keys can be used to encrypt any message.	A private key or a secret key can be used to decrypt an encrypted message.
Sender encrypts data before sending it to the recipient during the encryption process.	The receiver receives the data (which was originally encoded in cipher text) and converts it to plain text.
The encryption-decryption procedure uses the same algorithm with the same key.	A pair of keys are used in conjunction with a single algorithm for encryption and decryption, with each key being used for both operations.

Table 1. Encryption vs Decryption

Top Encryption Tools

Encryption is required for effective digital privacy, whether online or offline. Although HTTPS, VPNs, and web proxies are among the many encryption technologies available today to protect various categories of data, it can be difficult to find one that functions well. Either the program is financially unattainable or its efficacy is subpar. If you are serious about protecting your data, you must be familiar with the best encryption programs on the market. In this tutorial, however, we have provided a list of excellent free encryption programs that you can use to protect your online data. By utilizing these resources, you may be more proactive in safeguarding your own data and safety.

The use of encryption software may appear complicated, but it is actually quite simple. Included below are the best encryption tools for SMBs, businesses, and residential users:

1. VeraCrypt
2. AxCrypt
3. BitLocker
4. TrueCrypt
5. 7-Zip
6. BoxCryptor
7. FileVault 2
8. NordLocker
9. Tresorit
10. Cryptmount
11. Luks

Frequently Asked Questions about Encryption

You can find the answers to frequently asked questions about Encryption concepts.

Can encrypted data be hacked?

The short answer is yes, it is possible to hack encrypted data. However, the issue is not quite so easy or plain. Hacking encrypted data is highly tough, time-consuming, and requires a vast amount of technical understanding on the side of the hacker. It also needs incredibly powerful software to decrypt any data if hackers do not have access to the decryption key, however, software development for these purposes has progressed and there are hackers with the necessary skills.

"Does firewall use encryption?

Yes. Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) use encryption. Firewalls are a component of your network and server security solution. NGFWs prevent viruses and hackers from entering, but no system is foolproof and there may be unauthorized users with access to your network. Therefore, it is vital to examine the security of your data while it is at rest. This information might be accessed by employees who are not authorized to see or use the data, downloaded and shared with or sold to an external party. This might expose you to punishment if personal data is lost, or you could lose vital corporate information that harms your reputation or discloses company secrets. If data is encrypted when at rest, it cannot be utilized if files are taken.

What's the Difference Between In-transit vs At-rest Encryption?

"Encryption at rest" is similar to storing your data in a vault, while "encryption in transit" is compared to transporting it in an armored truck.

"Encryption in transit" occurs when data is active and traveling between devices and networks, such as the internet, within an organization, or being transferred to the cloud. "Data at rest" is described as information that is not actively being used, such as when it is not traveling between devices or networks or engaging with third parties. This data is saved in a centralized location on hard drives, laptops, flash drives, or on the cloud. The data is encrypted before transmission, the computer system endpoints are authenticated, and the data is decrypted and validated upon arrival. This is to secure data in the event that communications between two computer systems are intercepted. When data is encrypted at rest, it is safeguarded against system compromise and data exfiltration.